ilil 




^i^H&mmiimiitiuUii 



SOCIAL NEW YORK 
UNDER THE GEORGES 

1714-1776 



SOCIAL NEW YORK 
UNDER THE GEORGES 

1714 - - 1776 



HOUSES, STREETS AND COUNTRY HOMES, 
WITH CHAPTERS ON FASHIONS, FURNI- 
TURE, CHINA, PLATE AND MANNERS 



By ESTHER SINGLETON 

Author of ' ' T he Furniture of Our For e fa t h e r s ' ' 
Profusely Illustrated 



" 'Im^- 



#cUj iorfe 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 
1902 



THE LIBRARY Of 
CONGRESS, 

Two CoPlte RhCbfVEC 

Od^. 30,1^1- 

01. A!%8 (K-yy.c No. 
COPY B. 



Copyright, 1902 
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 



Piiblishrd XovniiUr, 190i 



PREFACE 

The purpose I have had in view in the following 
work has been to show clearly the social conditions 
of the prosperous class in New York during the 
period sometimes known as " The Golden Age of ^r 
New York," which extended from the accession of 
George I. till the outbreak of the Revolution. Other 
writers have taken pleasure in describing the humble 
side of life here with the Dutch vroitw at her spin- 
ning-wheel and the goodman on his settle at the 
fireside. In the following pages, this lowly side of 
life in Manhattan has been entirely neglected, mv ^^ 
aim having been to exhibit the opulent and fashion- 
able life that revolved around Fort George. 

Nothing could more clearly show the life of suc- 
cessful activity and at the same time of luxury led bv 
the wealthy citizens of New York than the descrip- 
tions of the houses they lived in, the contents of 
their various rooms, their plate, glass and china, the 
delicacies with which their tables were supj)lied, the 
gardens and domains in which thev took their pleas- 
ure, the clothes thev wore, the music they sang and -^ 
played, the plays, exhibitions and shows they attended, 
the public and private y^Vr.f, balls, dinners, and assem- 

vii 



Social New York Under the Georges 

blies at which they gathered, and the field-sports in 
which they indulged. No surv-ey of the period would 
be complete, moreover, without a glance at the ac- 
complishments, tastes, and fashionable fancies and fol- 
lies of the day. 

This material, collected and classified in chapters, 
has been gathered from many sources. Old letters 
and diaries have been consulted through the courtesy 
of descendants of those who wrote them. The ordi- 
nary sources of documentary history have been thor- 
oughly examined and sifted ; wills and inventories 
preserved in Albany and New York have been con- 
sulted, and in some cases complete interiors have 
been reconstructed by their aid. The richest mine 
of wealth, however, has been the newspapers of 
Colonial days. The publications of Messrs. Zenger, 
Gaine, Holt, Parker and Rivington have been ex- 
haustively searched ; and items of news that serve to 
elucidate the life of the old days, and advertisements 
of the merchants who catered to the needs and pleas- 
ures of the community, have been carefully gathered 
and classified. 

The picture here presented of the home of a pros- 
perous citizen is therefore no fanciful one, since the 
facts as given tell their owm storv convincingly. This 
is not a book of opinions but of facts : in all cases I 
have endeavoured to avoid all personal prejudice and 
favour, and merely to reproduce the social life of the 

viii 



Preface 

Georgian Age with the minimum of personal com- 
ment, occasionally indicating the connection between 
the fashions and tastes of that day in New York and 
those of the mother country. 

To many people, the facts here presented will be 
fresh and full of interest. To others, perhaps, the 
illustrations showing articles that were actually in the 
possession of old citizens famous in their day will be 
even more interesting. The Waltons, Ver Plancks, 
Beekmans, de Peysters, Alexanders, Duanes, Living- 
stons, Javs, de Lanccys and others, who were prom- 
inent in the mercantile and official life of the period, 
have left many descendants who still possess and prize 
useful and ornamental articles that belonged to their 
ancestors. 

Bv the courtesy of the present owners, these ob- 
jects have been specially photographed for this book, 
and many of them have never appeared in any pub- 
lication hitherto. It will be noticed that among the 
illustrations are several portraits of social leaders of 
the period, and that on other pages appear articles 
that belonged to them. The fjuaint tail-pieces of the 
chapters are fac-simile reproductions of various adver- 
tisements that occur in the columns of the news- 
papers. 

I have to tender my best thanks to those ladies 
who have kindly allowed me to illustrate my book 
with pictures of their precious heirlooms ; and to the 

ix 



Social New York Under the Georges 

New York Historical Society, and especially to its 
librarian, Mr. Robert Kelby, to whose kindness I am 
greatly indebted for the privilege of using its priceless 
collections, 

E. S. 

New York, October 20, 1902. 



CONTENTS 



PART I 

ASPECTS OF THE SMALL TOWN 

I. THE CITY AND ITS STREETS, .... 

II. VACANT LAND AND TYPICAL HOUSES, . 

III. HOUSE-BUILDING, EIRES, RENTS AND MAILS, 

IV. COUNTRY-SEATS AND FARMS 



PAGE 


3- 


-14 


15- 


-26 


27- 


-39 


40- 


-48 



PART II 
HOUSES AND FURNITURE 

I. EVIDENCES OF LUXURIOUS LIVING, 

II. LIVING-ROOMS AND THEIR CONTENTS, 

HI. CABINET-MAKERS AND VENDUE SALES, 

IV. WALLS, PICTURES AND LOOKING-GLASSES, 

V. BEDS, CHAIRS, TABLES AXD CLOCKS, . 



- 53 


-65 


. 66 


-78 


• 79 


-^7 


. 88- 


102 


- 103- 


115 



PART III 
TABLE FURNISHINGS 

I. CHINA: USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL, . 

11. J'L.VTE: TANKARDS, PUNCH-BOWLS AND CAN 
DLESTICKS, 

III. TEAPOTS, URNS AND SPOONS, 

IV. PEWTER, GLAS.SWARE, CUTLERY AND BRASS, 

xi 



. 119- 


132 


- 

- 133- 


144 


■ 145- 


158 


- 159- 


168 



Contents 



PART IV 

COSTUMES OF MEN 

I. THE MAN OF FASHION: HIS WIGS AND HATS, 
II. THE CLOTHES MEN WORE, .... 
III. COATS, BUTTONS, SHOES AND GLOVES, 



PAGE 
171-180 

181-1^86 

187-197 



PART V 
THE DRESS OF WOMEN 

I. TOILET, PAINTS AND PERFUMES, 

II. HAIR-DRESSING, CAPS AND HATS, 

III. GLOVES, SHOES AND STAYS, 

IV. HOOPS AND MANTUA-MAKERS, 
V. EXTRAVAGANCE AND ECONOMY, 

VI. JEWELRY AND ORNAMENTS, . 



201-208 
209-219 
220-228 
229-239 
240-249 
. 250-256 



PART VI 

AMUSEMENTS 

I. OUTDOOR SPORTS, ....... 259-271 

II. THEATRES, 272-285 

III. MUSIC, 286-300 

IV. BALLS. ASSEMBLIES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAIN- 
MENTS, 301-315 

V. SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS, . . . , . 316-326 

xii 



Contents 

PART VII 
MANNERS, FOOD AND CULTURE 

PAGE 

I. ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 329-341 

II. FOOD FROM THE FIELDS AND THE SEA, . . 342-354 

III. MARKETS AND COOKERY, 355-364 

IV. TAVERNS AND TEA-GARDENS, 365-372 

V. FASHION AND LUXURY, 373-385 

VI. EXTRAVAGANCE AND A RETURN TO SIMPLICITY, 386-395 

CONCLUSION, 395-396 



Xlll 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



THE VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE, .... Frouiispkc 

CHIPPENDALE SECRETARY AND BOOK-CASE, 

BEDROOM IN THE VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE, 

HOUSE TO BE SOLD OR LET (Tail-piece), 

SILVER TEA-KETTLE AND STAND, . 

THE LONDON PACKET (Tail-piece), . 

KITCHEN IN THE VAN CORTLANDT HOUSE, 

CHAIRS, 

SIX-LEGGED HIGH CASE-OF-DRA\VERS. . 
CHAIRS AND WRITING-DESK, .... 
"MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS" (Tail-piece) 
CHILD'S ROCKING-CHAIR AND CRADLE, 

CHAIRS, 

MAHOGANY DINING-TABLE, 

JAR AND BEAKERS OF HIZEN WARE, 

SIGN OF ANDREW GAUTIER (Tail-piece), 

CHAIRS, 

MAHOGANY TABLE, .... 

SIGN OF THOMAS BURLING (Tail-piece), 

SPECIMEN OF WALL-PAPER, 

GROUP OF CHINA, .... 

DR.\WTNG ROOM MANTEL-PIECE, BEEKMAN HOUSE, 

CHIPPENDALE MIRROR 

DECORATED TEA TRAY, 

XV 



26 
36 
39 
49 

54 
57 
62 

65 
67 

71 

75 
77 
78 
8i 

85 
87 
89 

93 

94 

96 

100 



List of Illustrations 



THE KING'S ARMS (Tail-piece), 
CHAIRS 



CHEST-UPOX-CIIIiST, . 

CHAIR AND TEA-TABLE, . 

SIGN OF THOMAS ASH (Tail-piece), 

GROUP OF ORNAMENTAL EARTHENWARE, 

WHITE ENAMELLED AND SALT GLAZE EARTHENWARE, 

LOWESTOFT CHINA. . 

VASES, BOWL AND PLATE, 

GROUP OF WEDGWOOD, . 

SILVER TANKARD, 

SILVER CANDLESTICKS, . 

GROUP OF SILVER BELONGING TO THE SANDS AND RAV 

FAMILIES, .... 
SILVER PUNCH BOWL, 
THE PHILA (Tail-piece), 
URN, COFFEE-POT, SPOONS, ETC., 
SILVER CANDLESTICKS, . 

GROUP OF SILVER BELONGING TO THE de PE\ 
FAMILY, 

group of silver belonging to the cox and alex 
ander families, 

SIGN OF SMITH RICHARDS (Tail-piece), 
DRESSER AND CHAIRS, 
SPOONS, KNIVES AND FORKS, . 
KNIFE-BOXES AND SPOON-CASE, 
SIGN OF JAMES YOULE (Tail-piece), 
MINIATURE OF LEWIS MORRIS, 

xvi 



STER 



I02 
104 
108 
114 

"5 
120 
124 
126 
129 
130 

134 
136 

138 
140 
144 
147 
150 

153 

156 
158 
160 
164 
166 
168 
173 



List of Illustrations 



ARTICLES BELOXGIXG TO WILLIAM BEEKMAX, 
SIGX OF XESBITT DEAXE (TaiLpiece), 
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM BEEKMAX, 

HOUSE (TaiLpiece) 

WHITE SILK WAISTCOAT 

SHOE, STOCK AXD KXI'.E liLCKLES, WATCHES, ETC 

PORTRAIT OF RICHARD RAY 

THE SPIIP HOPE (TaiLpiece), 

PORTRAIT OF MRS. RICHARD RAY, 

PORTRAIT OF MRS. PIERRE YALLETTE (MARIA JAY) , 

SICX OF C. DUYCKIXCK (I'aiLpiece) 

GREEX AXD BLUE SILK CALASHES, 

PORTRAIT OF MRS. JAMES DUAXE (MARIA LIVIXGSTOX), 

SIGX OF JOHX BURCHET (TaiLpiece), 

FREXCH FAX, 

FREXCH FAX, 

PORTRAIT OF CATHARIXE ELMEXDORPH, 
SIGX OF JOHX MILLIGAX (TaiLpiece), 

PIECE OF ^L\RY YAX CORTLAXDT'S WEDDIXG-DRES 

(1727), 

GROUP OF CUT GLASS, .... 

PIECE OF EMBROIDERED LUTESTRIXG. 

GOWX SPRIGGED WITH SILYER, . 

GOWX OF GAUZE EMBROIDERED IX SILYER, 

PORTRAIT OF CORXELIA BEEKMAX, 

SIGX OF PETER HULTCK (TaiLpiece), 

LORGXETTE AXD WATCHES OWXED BY AXGI 
SCHUYLER CHURCH, 

xvii 



LIC.V 



PAGE 
179 

180 

186 
189 
191 

197 
202 
206 
208 
213 
218 
219 
223 
225 
227 
22S 

230 
232 

234 
238 
242 

247 
249 

251 



List of Illustrations 



BOWERS 



sp:t of jewelry, 

paste and mar(juisate necklaces, bracelets, ear 
rings, etc., 

silver bowl, .... 

sword, fans, canes, etc., . 

brass hearth-furniture, . 

silver candlesticks, . 

BULL-BAITING (TaiLpiece), . 

SILVER OWNED BY THE DUANE, JONES AND 
FAMILIES, 

SILVER TEA-POT, 

SPINET MADE BY JOHANNES HITCHCOCK, . 

CHAIRS, 

SILVER TEA SET, 

THE BRIG THOMAS (Tail-piece), .... 
HARPSICHORD MADE BY JACOBUS KIRKMAN, 

SECRETARY, 

PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM WALTON, . 
PORTRAIT OF MRS. WILLIAM WALTON, 
STAGE-WAGGON (Tail-piece), 
DRESS OWNED BY ANGELICA SCHUYLER, 
r^^ESS OWNED BY SUSANNAH de LANCEY, 
DRESS OWNED BY JUDITH C. VER PLANCK, 
LOCKET SET WITH DIAMONDS, 
TEA-TABLE AND SILVER MUGS, 

CHAIRS, 

HOUSE AND LOT (Tail-piece), 
MAHOGANY TABLE, . 

xviii 



PAGE 



256 
260 
2fa3 

266 

270 

271 

273 

275 
278 
282 
2S4 
285 
287 

291 

294 
297 
300 

302 

305 
307 
309 
312 

314 
315 
318 



List of Illustrations 



PAINTED TRAY AND PLATED WARE, 
MAHOGANY AND GILDED MIRROR, 
MAHOGANY CARD TABLE, 

EMBROIDERY, 

SAMPLER, 

SPINNING-WHEEL, 

SAMPLER, 

EFEIGY OF MR. RIVINGTON (Tail-piece), . 

PART OF ALMANAC, 

WINE BOTTLES, GLASSES AND KETTLE, 

CHOCOLATE POT, 

SIGN OF ABRAHAM DELANOY (Tail-piece), 

DUTCH CABINET 

CHINA HORSES, 

CHAIR, 

SIGN OF GEORGE W^EBSTER (Tail-piece), . 
PLATED WARE, 



SILVER OWNED BY THE BOWERS, CROOKE, BLEECKEI 
AND DUANE FAMILIES, . 



FERDINAND (TaiPpiece), .... 

SNUFF-BOXES AND OTHER ARTICLES, 

GOLD SNUFF-BOX, 

RUNAWAY NEGRO SLAVE (Tail-piece), 
VERNIS MARTIN BOX, SINGING-BIRDS, ETC., 
SILVER SALVER, 



P.\GE 
321 

326 

333 
336 
340 
341 
344 
348 
352 
354 
356 
361 
363 
364 
368 

371 
372 
376 
379 
385 
388 

394 



XIX 



PART I 
ASPECTS OF THE SMALL TOWN 



PART I 
ASPECTS OF THP: SMALL TOWN 



THE CITY AND ITS STREETS 

No city was ever more beautifully situated than 
New York. Commercially, also, its favourable posi- 
tion could not help rendering it the metropolis of a 
hemisphere. During the early years of its settlement, 
every traveller was struck with its natural beauty. 
Coming up the bav, whose shores at that date were 
abundantly wooded, the quaint little town lying at 
the southern point of Manhattan Island must have 
formed a picture that was perfectly delightful. It is 
doubtful if anv citv was ever so important commer- 
cially and politicallv in proportion to its size. What 
Goa or Batavia was to the Orient, New York was to 
the Western Hemisphere. Ships with manufactures 
and the products of the earth arrived daily from Eu- 
rope and the W^est Indies. This little port was a 
great mart and clearing-house. 

Its size, however, remained insignificant all through 
the Eighteenth Century. In 1712, two years before 
George I. came to the throne, the city contained 
only 5,816 inhabitants, of whom 970 were blacks. 
This number rose to 8,882 in 1731, and 21,863 forty 

3 



Social New York Under the Georges 



years later. In 1 744, there were only 1,141 houses; 
and in 1751, only 2,059. Four years later the num- 
ber was 2,200. In 1766, there were 3,223, distributed 
as follows: East Ward, 521; North Ward, 487; 
South Ward, 314; Out Ward (exclusive of the dis- 
trict of Harlem), 270; Dock Ward, 287; and Mont- 
ijomerie Ward, 664. In 1773, the city contained 
18,726 whites, and 2,737 blacks. 

Approaching the city, the principal front of which 
faced Long Island, the first building that struck the 
eye was the Fort, the southern end of which was built 
on rocks at the water's edge. It extended from the 
present Greenwich Street and Battery Place to the 
junction of Whitehall Street and Front Street. Be- 
yond this, old prints show a cluster of quaint houses 
toj^ped by a few spires, and then the ground un- 
dulates with low hills and woods in the distance. 
Within the Fort, lived the Governor, whose house 
was burnt in 1741, and again in 1773. On this site, 
the new Custom House is now (1902) in course of 
erection. 

In early davs, the citv had been stockaded as a 
protection against Indians. In 1745, the dread of a 
French and Indian invasion was so great that a line 
of palisades and blockhouses was built around the 
northern end of the town from river to river. It was 
constructed of cedar logs about fourteen feet long 
and nine or ten inches in diameter, placed in a trench 
with loop-holes for muskets. The breast-work was 
four feet high, and four feet wide. There were three 
blockhouses, thirty feet square and ten feet high, with 
six port-holes for cannon. They were made of logs. 

4 



Aspects of the Small Town 



There were four gates, or outlets, to the eit\' : in 
Pearl Street, Chatham Square, Broadway and Green- 
wich Street. The palisades started from James and 
Cherrv Street, ran diagonall)' across Duane Street and 
Pearl Street, and so irregularly west, south of Fresh 
Water and north of Warren Street. 

In 1753, an enthusiastic author writes: 

" With respect to what Nature has done for us there is not 
a happier People in the \Vorkl than the Inhabitants of this 
Province. I have myself spent a month in their Metropolis, 
the most splendid Town in North America. Everything in it 
conspires to make New York the best Mart on the Continent. 
Our Coasts are regular and by a good Lighthouse might be 
rendered safe and easy. 

"The City of New York consists of about twenty-five hun- 
dred buildings. It is a mile in length, and at a Medium, not 
above half that in breadth. On the South it forms a Point into 
a large Bay. The East side lies on a Streight which at eighteen 
or twenty miles Eastward opens to the Sound. It adjoins to 
the Hudson river on the West and such is its Figure, its Centre 
of Business and the Situation of its lUiildings, that the Cartage 
in Town from one part to another does not at a Medium e.\ceed 
one-quarter of a mile. The prodigious Advantage of which to 
a trading City is more easily conceived than expressed. It 
facilitates and expedites the lading and unlading of Ships and 
Boats, saves Time and Labour, and is attended with Innumer- 
able Conveniences to its inhabitants." 

A few more impressions recorded by contemjio- 
rary visitors will help us to give a clear idea of the 
aspect and character of the town. In 1748, Kalm 
wrote : 

" In size it comes nearest to Boston and Philadelphia: but 
with regard to its fine buildings, its opulence, and extensive 
commerce, it disputes the preference with them." 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Describing the streets, he said : 

" Most of them are paved, except in high pKices, where it 
has been found useless. In the chief streets there are trees 
planted, which in summer give them a fine appearance, and 
during the excessive heat at that time, afford a cooling shade. 
I found it extremely pleasant to walk in the town, for it 
seemed quite like a garden. 

'* The trees which were planted for this purpose are chiefly 
of two kinds ; the water beech is the most numerous, and 
gives an agreeable shade in summer, by its large and numerous 
leaves. The locust tree is likewise frequent; its fine leaves 
and the odoriferous scent which exhales from its flowers make 
it very proper for being planted in the streets, near the houses 
and in gardens. There are likewise lime-trees and elms in 
these walks, but they are not, by far, as frequent as the others. 
One seldom meets with trees of the same sort adjoining each 
other, they being in general placed alternately. Besides num- 
bers of birds of all kinds, which make these trees their abode, 
there are likewise a kind of frogs, which frequent them in 
great numbers during the summer. They are very clamorous 
in the evening, and in the nights (especially when the days have 
been hot, and the rain is expected,) and in a manner drown the 
singing of the birds. They frequently make such a noise that 
it is difficult for a person to make himself heard. 

" Most of the houses are built of bricks; and are generally 
strong and neat, and several stories high. Some had, accord- 
ing to old architecture, turned the gable -end towards the 
streets; but the new houses were altered in this respect. 
Many of the houses had a balcony on the roof, on which the 
people used to sit in the evenings in the summer season ; and 
thence they had a pleasant view of a great part of the town 
and likewise a part of the adjacent water and of the opposite 
shore. The roofs are commonly covered with tiles, or shingles; 
the latter of which are made of the w'hite fir tree, or Pinits 
Strobiis^ which grows higher up in the country. The inhabi- 
tants are of opinion that a roof made of these shingles is as 
durable as one made in Pennsylvania of the white cedar or 

6 



Aspects of the Small Town 

Ci/p/css/is thyoiih's. The walls were whitewashed within, and 1 
did not any where see hangings, with which the people in this 
country seem in general to be little acquainted. I'he walls 
were quite covered with all sorts of drawings and pictures in 
small frames. On each side of the chimnies they usually had 
a sort of alcove; and the wall under the windows was wain- 
scoted, and had benches placed near it. The alcoves and all 
the woodwork were painted with a bluish grey colour." 

In I 78 1, the traveller, Anhurev, wrote: 

"The city of New York stands on the southern extremity 
of the island, and its situation is extremely delightful ; com- 
manding such a variety of prospects, as are the "most charming 
that can be conceived. The city is mostly built upon the 
East River, on account of the harbour. In many of the streets 
are rows of trees on each side to shelter from the amazing 
heats in summer. Most of the houses are built with brick, 
very strong and neat, and several stories high ; many of them 
have balconies on the roof, where company sit in the summer 
evenings, to enjoy the prospect of the opposite shores and har- 
bour ; and the roofs are covered with shingles. The streets 
are paved and clean, but in general very narrow; there are 
two or three indeed which are spacious and airy. The length 
of the town is somewhat more than a mile, and the breadth of 
it about half a mile." 

The authorities of the city were then possessed of 
a great deal of civic pride. They took pains to make 
the city beautiful and keep it neat. Many laws 
show this. Before examining; the houses, it will 
therefore be well to look at a few of the ordinances 
dealing with streets and city life. 

In 1 713, an Act was passed for mending and 
keeping in repair the post road from New York to 
Kingsbridge. The road was in a ruinous condition. 
It was to " Be laid out the breadth of four rod and 
cleared the breadth of two rodd at least." 

7 



Social New York Under the Georges 



The constable had a plenty of work to do, for the 
city contained a considerable amount of lawlessness. 
It must be confessed, however, that the law's retalia- 
tion was at least as savage as the crimes that offended 
it. Negroes often gave trouble, though probably 
they were not as bad as the low piratical whites who 
haunted the wharves and drinking dens of New York 
as of any other port. Coiners and note forgers often 
" found how hard it is apt to go when the law and 
the thief have quarrels." The more humane punish- 
ments were imprisonment, ducking, whipping, pil- 
lor3nng, branding and hanging. In 1736, the Public 
Whipper was Edward Breuwen. On Jan. 15th of 
that year he received £2 — 10 — o for his quarter's sal- 
ary and fifteen shillings " for sitting in the pillory, and 
whipping through the town at a cart's tail one Pat- 
rick Butler for issueing counterfeited dollars." Fif- 
teen years later this official's pav was increased. In 
1 75 1, it was announced that "The Public Whipper 
of the City of New York being lately dead ; if any 
Person inclines to accept that office with 20^ a vear, 
he may apply to the Mayor and be entered." 

Punishments were innumerable. Among manv 
may be instanced the case of John Morris, who in 
1768 for sheep-stealing was found guilty, but was 
granted the benefit of the clergy, burnt in the hand 
and discharged. The following year Daniel Martin 
received fifteen lashes for stealing fiddle strings. For 
defrauding and cheating, Richard Ely " was exalted 
on a wooden horse on a triumphal car with labels on 
his breast ; after which he was conducted to the pub- 
lic whipping-post where he received a proper chastise- 



Aspects of the Small Town 

ment." In 1769, a certain John Jubcart, for passing 
false dollars, was executed "at the stone fence," near 
the city. The frail of the opposite sex were treated 
with equal severity, and negroes were sometimes 
burnt at the stake. The savage nature of the pun- 
ishments did not always instil greater respect for the 
law. On one occasion while witnessing an execution 
for grand larceny a gentleman had his pocket picked 
beside the gallows. From 1725 to 1756, the site of 
the gallows was on the Common : in the latter year 
this was removed " to the place where the negroes 
were burnt some five years before called Catiemut's 
Hill near Fresh ^Vater." 

Lookini>; after the safety of the citv was consid- 
ered the duty of every inhabitant. In 1731, there 
was declared to be a great necessity of a strong and 
sufficient watch to be kept every night in New York 
for the safety and peace of the said city. Therefore, 
all householders in the six wards, " Being able and fit 
to watch, or to find an able and fit person to watch 
for him, her or them, or in his, her, or their stead, do 
and ought, by reason of their habitation, occupation 
and dwelling, to keep watch within the said city for 
the preservation of the king's peace and for the ar- 
resting and apprehending of all night-walkers, male- 
factors and suspected persons which shall be found 
passing, wandering and misbehaving themselves." 
Of late years ofreat numbers were declared to have 
come privately into the city, some of whom were 
suspected to be English convicts. Hence the ne- 
cessity for a strong watch. The Act called for a 
constable and eight watchmen every nigiit, and e(]ual 

9 




Chippendale secretary and book-case. 



See page ill 



Aspects of the Small Town 

duty was to be performed by every ward in the fol- 
lowing order : East, Dock, North, South, West and 
Montgomerie. No boys or servants were to l)e ad- 
mitted as watchmen. The Negro Plot afterwards 
for a time made necessary military watches. 

Nio^ht-hawks and Mohocks were bv no means un- 
known in New York. They do not appear to have 
committed such brutal excesses as made them hated 
and feared in the English metropolis, but they some- 
times indulged in the gentle and joyous pastime of 
beating the watch, wrenching off door knockers and 
breaking street-lamps. In 1751, a law was passed to 
curb the exuberance of nocturnal vivacity. It recites 
that sundry of the inhabitants of the City of New 
York, as well for the prevention of several evil prac- 
tices usually committed in the night-time, as for the 
convenience of persons using the streets about their 
lawful business, are willing at their own expense to 
hang out lamps to illuminate the streets of the said 
city, but are discouraged therefrom for fear that such 
lamps may be broken, taken down, destroyed or car- 
ried away, or the lights therein put out or extin- 
guished. For every such offence a forfeit of ^,'20 
was provided. 

We occasionally come upon evidence of the pranks 
played l)v those Roaring Boys. Two months after 
the passage of the above Act, we find the following 
(February 3, 1752) : " Last Monday night several of 
the glass lamps put up about the City were taken 
down by Persons unknown and left whole in tlic 
Meal Market altogether. It is thought to be done 
by some daring Rakes, in order to convince the own- 

1 1 



Social New York Under the Georges 



ers how easy those lamps might be demolished with- 
out discovery." Another and more serious occur- 
rence is reported in July, 1766 : 

"Four officers sallied from a tavern where they had drunk 
too freely and near the college began to break the city lamps. 
A man who keeps a public house there happened to be up and 
leaning over his door, upon his reproving them, they gave him 
abusive language, rushed into the house, attacked him with 
their swords and wounded him in the arm. Then they alarmed 
and terrified the family and lodgers, some of whom they pulled 
from their beds. After this — they proceeded down the Broad 
Way and broke 34 lamps. Meeting the watch they wounded 
several, but one officer was arrested. The others then went 
for help and rescued their companion. The next day they 
were held under heavy bail for the Supreme Court. l"he pen- 
alty was ^20 for each lamp." 

In 1 771, suggestions were made for improving 
the lighting of the streets. It was recommended 
that the lamps should be ten feet high and at a dis- 
tance of fifty feet from one another and four feet out 
from the houses, the diameter of the lamp globe be- 
ing ten inches. 

Among the acts regulating good order in streets 
we find that in 1725, the nuisance of dogs running 
loose was remedied by legislation. The Act recites 
that " The butchers and other inhabitants of this city 
superabound in a very great number of mischievous 
mastiffs, l)ull-dogs and other useless dogs, who not 
only run at coaches, horses, chaises, and cattle in the 
daytime, whereby much mischief has ensued, but in 
the night-time are left in the streets of this city and 
frequently tear, bite and kill several cows and render 
the passage of the inhabitants upon their lawful occa- 

12 



Aspects of the Small Town 

sions very dangerous . . . by attacking antl flying at 
tliem." 

In 1 731, several important municipal ordinances 
vrere passed. One was intended to check mad riding 
through the streets by slaves as they took their masters' 
horses to water. If the streets were sometimes in a de- 
plorable condition, as complaints in the papers would 
argue, this was not because the city fathers were in- 
different. In I 73 1, a law declared that "the former 
laws of this city made for paving the streets within 
the same have been much neglected, whereby the 
citizens and sojourners within the said city are much 
annoved, and the intercourse of trade among the in- 
habitants thereby much lessened." All inhabitants of 
houses or owners of lots fronting on anv street, lane 
or allev were therefore commanded (at the expense 
of the landlord) to pave the walk in front and keep it 
in repair. 

In the same year, a law was passed prohibiting 
any person from casting into the streets, docks, or 
slips, ashes, oyster-shells, or anv kind of carrion or 
filth. People were forbidden to encumber the streets 
with building-material. The inhabitants, moreover. 
" shall on every Friday, rake and sweep together all 
the dirt, filth and soil lying in the streets before their 
respective dwelling-houses, upon heaps, and on the 
same day, or on the Saturday following, shall cause 
the same to be carried away and thrown into the 
river, or some other convenient place." 

The law for the observance of the Sabbath in 
New York in 1731 j)rohibited servile work and buv- 
ing and selling. It also forbade children, youths, 

I ; 



Social New York Under the Georges 

maids or other persons to meet and sport, play, or 
make noise or disturbance. No tavern-keepers were 
to serve customers other than travellers during divine 
service or preaching. During service, two or more 
of the constables of the six wards walked through the 
several streets and lanes of the city with their staffs 
and took care that the law was duly observed. It 
was enacted " that if any children, youth, apprentices, 
servants, or other persons, do fire and discharge any 
gun, or pistol at any mark, or at random against any 
fence, pales, or within any orchard or other inclosure, 
or in any place where persons frequent to walk," the 
offender should be fined twenty shillings. 

It was customary in those days, as now, to wel- 
come the new year with great noise. We are told, 
in an Act of 1773, that great damages are frequently 
done on the eve of the last day of December, and on 
the first and second days of January, by persons 
going from house to house with guns and other fire- 
arms, and being often intoxicated with liquor they 
have not only put the inhabitants in great terror, but 
committed many mischiefs. A penalty of twenty 
shillings was provided to stop this. 

In 1769, a law was passed inflicting a penalty of 
twenty shillings for firing "any gun, pistol, rocket, 
cracker, squib, or other fire-work, in any street, lane, 
or alley, garden or other inclosure, or from any house, 
or in any other place where persons frequently walk." 



14 



II 

VACANT LAND AND TYPICAL HOUSES 

When Manhattan Island was first settled, it was 
covered with trees, with the exception of the low-lying 
salt meadows. Much of the timber was soon cleared 
awav to make room for meadows and gardens, so 
necessary to the comfort and pleasure of the Eng- 
lish as well as the Dutch. 

What is now Exchange Place was originally called 
Garden Street, and this Street was again called Gar- 
den Street in 1728. Maiden Lane was originally the 
Green Lane. The Corporation under the English 
rule were always willing to have the city beautified. 
The inhalfitants in 1708 received permission to plant 
trees in front of their houses. Fifty years later, trees 
were still a conspicuous feature of the streets. 

Swamps, marshes and streams were plentiful. 
Broad Street was originallv a marshy tract through 
which the Dutch had made the " Graft " or canal. 
At the foot, it was crossed by a bridge that gave its 
name to Bridge Street. At the mouth of the inlet 
was one of the principal landing places for vessels. 

Other swampv districts that became well-known 
landmarks were Beekman's Swamp or Cripple Bush, 
and a swamp on De Lancey's estate in Greenwich 
village. The former was below Pearl Street and was 
not drained till comparativeh' late. \Villiam Wal- 

15 



Social New York Under the Georges 

ton's house was only about a hundred yards distant 
from it. In 1734, were "To be sold 6 Lotts of Land 
on the West Side of the Swamp or Criplebush, 3 of 
them front the Road that leads from Spring Garden 
to the Fresh Water, the other three the Street next to 
the Swamp ; there is 4 good small Houses on them, 
one in the Possession of Mrs. Scot." 

Open spaces even within the narrow confines of 
the city were not inconsiderable. Besides gardens, 
there were meadows that were not occupied by 
houses. Duyckinck's map of 1755 shows King's 
Farm, west of Broadway, between Dye and Warren 
Streets, with only " part of it layd out in plots." On 
the other side of Broadway, facing the King's Farm, 
was the Common, or Park, which at the northern 
end was separated from the negroes' burial ground by 
palisades. The latter adjoined Fresh Water, a lake 
from which water flowed down both to the North 
and East River. On the Common, near the site of 
the present City Hall, was a powder-house. In 1725, 
a gallows was also erected on the Common. 

From time to time, we find complaints of en- 
croachments on the common rights of citizens by 
individuals. As the houses multiplied and private 
gardens and open spaces were built over, the impor- 
tance of common land for pasturage and recreation 
increased. In 1767, a writer complaining of the high 
price of milk and its adulteration thinks it arises 
" from the scarcity and expensiveness of pasturage 
near this City ; and this again proceeds from the late 
practice of leasing out the Common Lands to people 
who have large farms of their own adjoining. . . . 

16 



Aspects of the Small Town 

They afiford us at a small expense earth for the red 
briek used in all our new buildings and if we were 
deprived of those lands a great advance in the price 
of bricks would certainly be the consequence. We 
should also be deprived of the stone, now much used 
for underpinning and other purposes. . . . They might 
at the common expence be put into the best order 
for pasture, meadow, etc., with proper enclosures and 
other conveniences, and keepers be hired to look 
after the cattle, and drive them to and from town and 
pasture. ... It is also worth noting that since we 
are prohibited from hunting or shooting upon other 
men's lands, it is necessary that the citizens should 
have some other place for that manly diversion or 
exercise ; otherwise they will be in danger of forget- 
ting to use their firearms with dexterity, however 
necessary they may be for their own defence, and of 
sinking into effeminacy and meanness." 

In the above communication, the allusion to the 
prohibition of hunting or shooting on other men's 
lands shows that an old grievance had only lately 
been remedied. In fact, only two years previously 
had an Act been passed to prevent hunting with fire- 
arms in the City of New York and the Liberties 
thereof. By this Act, a twenty shillings fine was m- 
curred by anybody but the owner or his servants 
" that fires a gun in anv orchard, garden, cornfield or 
other inclosed land, or enters into or passes through it." 

" It has long been the practice of great numbers 

of idle and disorderly persons in and about the City 

of New York and the Liberties thereof to hunt with 

firearms and to tread down the grass, and corn, and 

3 17 



Social New York Under the Georges 



other grain standing and growing in the fields and 
enclosures there, to the great danger of the lives of 
His Majesty's subjects, the ruin and destruction of 
the most valuable im})rovements, the grievous injurv 
of the proprietors, and the great discouragement of 
their industry." 

Another open space was in front of the Fort. At 
the beo:inninof of the Eno-lish rule, a market fair had 
been ordered to be held every Thursday, Friday and 
Saturday " att the market-house and plaine afore the 
Forte." Later, however, it was called The Parade, 
on account of the English garrison exercising here. 
In 1732, the Corporation resolved to "lease a piece 
of land lying at the lower end of Broadwav, fronting 
the Fort to some of the inhabitants, in order to be 
enclosed to make a Bowling-Green there, with walks 
therein, for the beauty and ornament of said street, 
as well as for the delight of the inhabitants of this 
city." It was leased to John Chambers, Peter Bav- 
ard and Peter Jay for eleven years at a rent of one 
pepper-corn per annum. 

The lower part of Broadway, being near the resi- 
dence of the Governor, was always a fashionable 
quarter. The lots on the west side of Broadway 
averaged about fifty feet in width and extended back 
to the Hudson, which was nearer than it is now. 
Where is now the corner of Battery Park and Broad- 
way, Captain Kennedy, the naval commander and 
collector of the port, built a fine dwelling-house in 
1760, having purchased some ground on which were 
some small buildings for ^66, from Abraham Depey- 
ster. The Stevens, Livingston and other families 

18 



A specif of the Small Town 

followed his example, and the shady stretch reach- 
ing up to Trinity Church became known as the 
Mall. 

A rival fashionable district was Pearl Street. One 
of the old houses built in the Eighteenth Century 
survived till very recently. Here lived Mr. William 
Walton, and his house and grounds were typical of 
many a rich city merchant of his day. It was a brick 
house, three stories high, relieved by brown stone 
water-tables, jambs and lintels. His large and fine 
garden extended down to the water. Another fine 
residence in this district was the de Peyster house, 
erected in 1695, in Queen Street, nearly opposite 
Cedar. This was also three stories high, with a balcony 
over its double door. Governor Clinton lived here and 
this house was used by Washington for headquarters. 
At Broad and Pearl Streets, was the famous Fraunces's 
Tavern, still standing. 

The rich merchants sometimes had their stores 
and counting-houses adjoining, or in, their dwellings. 
Sometimes they lived in manor-houses or country- 
seats in the island a few miles away from the city 
and drove in to business. The merchants' usual busi- 
ness hours were from 10 a. .m. to 2 p. m. In the middle 
of the century, Hanover Square was the centre of trade ; 
here were the counting-houses of Walton, Desbrosses, 
Borche, and other great merchants of the City ; Lewis 
Morris lived here, and so did the Waltons. 

We find houses of all sizes on lots of varying 
dimensions. A few extracts from the newspapers will 
serve to show what kinds .of houses could be bought 
or rented here : 

19 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" A lot of land lying on the South side of Queen's Street, 
thirty two Foot six Inches Front and the same in the Rear, the 
Length being from said Street to Low Water Mark part of the 
ground at the old Slaughter House." (1730.) 

"A certain House and Lot of Ground, situate, lying and 
being in Hanover Square in the East Ward of the City of New 
York, now in the tenure and occupation of Mr. John Aubernau, 
containing in the Front, Twenty-eight foot in the Rear, Thirty- 
five foot; running from Hanover Square aforesaid to the Lane 
formerly called Drain Ditch and now The Sloat." 

" The two lots of Land with the Brew-House and Malt- 
House thereon and a very good Well situate in Ann Street to 
be sold." (1732.) 

"To be sold, the House and Lot of John Symense in the 
Broad-Way in New York, the House is as good as new, and has 
very good Stone-Walls; there is a small Kitchen, a Grass Plot, 
Wood-Yard, several Fruit Trees, and other Conveniences be- 
longing to it, enquire of John Symense now in possession of 
the Premises." (1734.) 

" A good dwelling-house and lot of ground North side of 
Pearl Street. The house is two stories high and has two rooms 
on a floor with a kitchen back, a gang-way on the side of it, 
with a large yard back bounded by the Fort Garden." 

"To be let, the storehouse of Mr. Isaac Latouch's, adjoin- 
ino- the dwelling-house; it has a very neat warm room with a 
fireplace annexed to it, and is an exceedingly commodious store, 
with proper shelves, and well noted as a dry goods store. It 
would be very convenient for a batchelor." (1754-) 

" A new two-story house and several adjoining lots are for 
sale fronting Fore Street, 44 feet and Nassau Street 46 feet. It 
is well built of brick and stone, has three rooms on a floor, 
seven fireplaces in all, spacious garret, good kitchen, fine large 
cellars, large entry through the middle of the house and a hand- 
some staircase. Its situation is extremely pleasant near the 
Rev. Mr. Barclay's and Alderman Yan Cortlandt's, where, from 
the chamber windows you have a beautiful prospect over the 
Commons and up the North River, being a seat suitable for a 
gentleman or merchant, havmg a large storehouse on the back 

20 



Aspects of the Small Town 

part 40 feet long with a double door in the front, and a very 
fine garden, all in good fence." (1754.) 

"A house and lot of ground in the Broad-Way, late belong- 
ing to Mr. Thomas Duncan, deceased, being in front, 31 feet 
3-4, in rear, 41 feet 10-12, in length on the north side, 323 feet 
and on the south, 321 feet 1-2; from the back of the lot runs a 
water lot of 41 feet, 10-12 front and rear and 200 feet in length 
to be sold with the house : In the house are four good rooms 
on the first and second floors, and an entry all lined with hang- 
ings, besides a fine pantry and a bed room; also two conve- 
nient rooms in the third story, a good cellar, a cellar kitchen, 
underneath; to this adjoins a back building of two stories high 
with four convenient rooms and two cellars." The house was 
brick. On the bank of the river was a handsome hanging gar- 
den, with two flights of stone steps, and a summer-house at the 
water's edge. The yard was laid with flagstones and there were 
two cisterns and a pump." (1761.) 

It will be noticed that the houses were not num- 
bered. They were identified by signs. These must 
have made the streets look exceedingly i)icturesque. 
The signs were usually appropriate to the occupation 
of the tenant or owner of the house. Thus, we have 
John Brinner at the Sign of the Chair, a cabinet- 
maker. Other instances are : C. O. Bruff (gold- 
smith) Teapot and Tankard ; James Duthie (drug- 
gist) Golden Pot ; Peter Goelet (ironmonger) Golden 
Key ; Jacob Wilkens (brass-founder) Andiron and 
Candlestick ; Robert Boyle (pewterer) Dish ; Peter 
T. Curtenius (ironmonger) Golden Anvil and Ham- 
mer; Joseph Cox (upholsterer and cabinet-maker) 
Royal Bed and Star ; Thomas Brown (ironmonger) 
Cross-daggers; Samuel Lawrence (coach-maker) Char- 
iot and Phaeton ; Cornelius R\-an (tailoi-) Stm and 
Breeches; Jos. Stephens and Jno. Xewstead (livery 

21 



Social New York Under the Georges 

stable) Two Runnino; Horses ; Moses Taylor (brazier) 
Cat and Kettle ; William Anderson (tailor) Hand 
and Shears, etc., etc. Other signs include the Dove 
and the Rainbow ; Bible ; Bible and Crown ; Blue 
Ball ; Golden Broad-Ax, Lock and Key ; Horse and 
Cart ; The Rose and Crown ; Sign of the Two Cupids ; 
Golden Fleece ; Chariot ; Unicorn and Mortar ; High- 
lander ; Chair Wheel ; The Admiral Vernon ; Chair 
Box and Carriage ; Platter ; Three Pigeons ; Black 
Horse ; Quadrant and Surveying Compass ; Dog's 
Head in the Porridge Pot ; St. George and the Drag- 
on ; Bunch of Grapes ; King's Arms ; Duke of Cum- 
berland ; Prince of Orange ; etc., etc. 

It was not alone the house of business that was 
known by its sign. Occasionally we meet with a 
notice such as this : "To be sold, a good brick dwell- 
ing-house in John Street, near Alderman Courtlandt's 
and known bv the Sign of the White Bear." 

It would seem that flagstaffs and vanes were 
rare on the buildings, or, at least, that they were 
worthv of special notice. For example: "John 
Browne, lately married the Widow Breese, continues 
his Leather Dresser's business in Smith's Fly near 
Beekman's Swamp, or Cripple Bush ; at the south 
end of the house a staff is erected, with a \"anc on 
the top of it." 

When Kalm visited New \'ork in i 748, he noted 
that there was no good water in the city ; and he 
mentions that "at a little distance there is a large 
spring of good water, which the inhabitants take for 
their tea and for the uses of the kitchen. Those, 
however," he continues, " who are less delicate on this 




u 



Social New York Under the Georges 

point, make use of the water from the wells in town, 
though it be very bad." The spring that he refers to 
became the Tea-Water Pump, situated at what is now 
Roosevelt and Chatham streets. Here an engine was 
soon erected that forced the water up. This is some- 
times referred to as the " Fresh-Water Engine from 
which the town is supplied." This was the chief 
source of tea-water until about 1800. The well was 
about twenty feet deep and was capable of producing 
daily a hundred and ten hogsheads, each containing a 
hundred and thirty gallons. The water was carted to 
town in hogsheads and casks. This spring was also a 
favourite resort and near it an ornamental garden had 
been laid out and called the "Tea-Water Pump 
Garden." 

Among the wells in the city, the most frequented 
was that near the pond known as the Collect and 
the one in Greenwich between Thames and Cedar 
Streets near Comfort's Dock. Every morning and 
evening the slaves came in great numbers to fill their 
kegs with " Comfort's Tea-Water." 

The pleasure that the inhabitants of New York 
took in gardens is constantly in evidence. As the 
town orrew, it was natural that real estate in the busi- 
ness centre should become more valuable, and conse- 
quently that the gardens should be sacrificed and 
cut up into town lots. We sometimes meet with 
announcements like the following (1734): "To be 
Sold. The house. Store house and garden of Benja- 
min D'liarriet, situate in Wall St. and several lots of 
ground in John St. on the West Corner of Gold St., 
formerly the garden of Mr. John Outman." 

24 



Aspects of the Small Toiun 

The o^ardens were laid out accordino: to the 
national or individual tastes of the owners, in the 
early years of the eentury, the formal Duteh garden 
predominated, hut as the English, Freneh, Italian or 
Chinese garden eame into vogue abroad, people of 
wealth and fashion here eagerly adopted the new 
styles. Advertisements of able gardeners in want of 
situations are plentiful, and so are offers of all sorts of 
flower-seeds, fruit-trees, and other necessaries for a 
well-appointed garden. In 1771, there is a notice of a 
man being killed by a summer-house, that he was mov- 
ing, falling upon him. This was in the garden of a Mr. 
Faulkner, near Cowfoot Hill. The famous grottos of 
Twickenham and other English estates were imitated 
here. In 1765, Henry Smith, Church Street, wants to 
sell a fine collection of curious shells for grotto-work. 
In 1 75 1, the following announcement appears : 

"Any gentlemen or others desirous of adorning their gar- 
dens, Tops of their Houses or doors, etc. with Flower Pots, In- 
cence Pots, Urns, Vases, or any other Ornament capable of 
being made with clay, may be supplied by Edward Annerly 
near the Fly Market, he having Set up the Potter's Business by 
Means of a Family of Germans he bought, supi)osed by their 
work to be the most ingenious in that Trade that ever arrived 
in America, at his Estate at Whitestone, where he has clay 
capable of making eight different sorts of Earthenware, a large 
quantity of various kinds being already made fitting to be 
baked, which will be soon." 

The varieties of architecture, landscape-gardening, 
etc., most in favour in the middle of the century are 
shown in the following advertisement : 

"Theophilus Hardenbrook, surveyor, designs all sorts of 
buildings well suited to both town and country, Pavillions, 

25 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Summer Rooms, Seats for Gardens, all sorts of Rooms after 
the taste of the Arabian, Chinese, Persian, Gothic, Muscovite, 
Paladian, Roman, Vitruvian and Egyptian; also Water houses 
for Parks, Keepers' Lodges, burying Places, Niches, Eye Traps 
to represent a Building terminatmg a Walk, or to hide some 
disagreeable object. Rotundas, Colonades, Arcades, Studies in 
Parks or Gardens, Green Houses for the Preservation of Herbs, 
with winding Funnels through the WAX so as to keep them 
warm. Farm Houses, Town Houses, Market Houses, Churches, 
Altar Pieces: He also connects all sorts of Truss-Roofs and 
prevents their separating by a new Method, and also all sorts 
of Domes, Spires, Cupolos, both pile and Flanging Bridges. 
Note: He designs and executes beautiful chimney-pieces as 
any here yet executed. Said Harden brook has now opened 
school near the New English Church, where he teaches Archi- 
tecture from six o'clock in the Evening till Eight." (1757 ) 




"To be Sold or Let." (1767.) 



26 



Ill 

HOUSE-BUILDING, FIRES, RENTS AND MAILS 

The citizen was ever in dread of fire. Houses 
built in the Eighteenth Century were principally of 
wood. The introduction of fire-engines in 1731 was 
due to Stephen de Lancey and his partner, John 
Moore. They sent to London in May of that year 
for two engines " with suction and materials thereto," 
and upon their arrival a room in the City Hall w^as 
arranged for their accommodation. They were used 
for the first time on Dec. 6th, 1732, when a fire broke 
out at midnight in a joiner's house. The report says : 
" it began in the garret where the people were all 
asleep, and burnt violentlv ; but bv the help of the 
two fire-engines which came from London in the ship 
Beaver, the fire was extinguished, after having burnt 
down that house and damaged the next." 

Within a very few years, engines were being man- 
ufactured here. In 1739. "A Fire Engine that will 
deliver 2 Hogsheads of Water in a minute, in a con- 
tinued Stream is to be Sold bv ^Vm. Lindsav the 
Maker thereof." 

In 1731, a law for the better |)reventing of fire 
required two viewers of chimnevs and heartiis to see 
that the latter were kept clean. It also ordered every 
owner of a liouse that had three fire-places to keep 
two leatiier buckets on iiand ; and one bucket, if less 

27 



Social New York Under the Georges 

than three fire-places. The buckets had to be allowed 
out of the rent by the landlord, whose initials they 
had to bear. Every brewer had to keep six buckets, 
and every baker three. One of the frequent fatal 
fires was reported as follows : 

" Mr. Thos. Duncan's house burnt with wife and 4 children, 
eldest daughter (18) saved by jumping out of a window three 
stories high into the arms of a gentleman who had encouraged 
her to this dangerous tho' only expedient. . . . The house with 
many valuable effects were entirely destroyed ; but by the in- 
dustry of the inhabitants, who are deservedly celebrated for 
their zeal and dexterity in extinguishing fires, assisted by the 
gentlemen of the army and the soldiers now quartered here, it 
was prevented from extending farther. One Mr. Flanagan, 
for being too industrious at the above fire, was committed to 
gaol." 

The almanac of 1776 informs us that the city 
" Fire Engines are kipt at the Fort, four at the Citv 
Hall, one at Hanover Square, one near the Chapel, 
one Maiden Lane, and one at the Alms House. To 
manage which are one engineer, two assistants ; and 
from each of the six wards twelve Firemen," 

In September, 1749, there was a long article in 
the Post-Boy from a contributor who wished to help 
his fellow citizens to provide against the dangers of 
fire. His arguments give us considerable knowledge 
of the condition of the houses of the period. The 
majority of the roofs being shingle, the great danger 
of conflagration arose from flying embers from other 
fires. He savs : 

" The danger is greatly increased for want of a conveniency 
readily to come at every part of the roof, most houses having 
only a way to come at the chminey, and some even not that. 

28 



Aspects of the Small Town 

'I'he method usually taken is to knock a hole through the roof 
as near the place afire as they can ; and if they have the good 
luck to put the lire out, yet is the house greatly damaged. In 
order to prevent this good servant (fire) from becoming a bad 
master, I would advise every man to erect a balcony over the 
ridge of the roof of his house. 

" In extreme dry times such a place would be convenient 
for tubs and pails of water, — for the springs then being low 
and most part of the wells in the city exhausted and drv, yield- 
ing very little water at a time, a considerable stock may be 
got and kept ready there against a time of need. This balcony 
may be useful in many ways. All gentlemen of fortune and 
substance might keep up there, a small garden or nre engine, 
which costs from ^15 to ^20. This will enable them to keep 
their own roofs wet and play upon any contiguous burning 
house. 

" They may sometimes from the tops of their houses for 
their own diversion, water the gardens with the water already 
there which by long standing in the sun would be rendered 
more fit for that purpose than cold water from the well. I'hey 
may wash the dust from their roofs, and thereby render the 
water they receive into their cisterns more clean and pure. 
When they intend their servants should sweep their streets, 
they may from thence sprinkle and allay the dust. Thus by 
frequent use, themselves and others may become expert in 
working of the engines, which will also thereby be kept in good 
order. . . . There are above 500 persons in this city able to 
provide a small engine without prejudice to their estate. . . . 
Further, such a balcony would afford a commodious place for 
the observations of those versed in astronomy ; having a clear 
and uninterrupted prospect, freed from intervening objects. 
These observations generally being made at night, the curious 
thus employed would be as so many sentinels to discover the 
first breaking out of any fires in the neighbourhood, which 
would produce a satisfaction in any man's breast to find him- 
self thus eminently serviceable to the public. Here a man may 
sometimes repair and with pleasure behold the beauties of a 
rising or setting sun; and by it correct his watch or clock, and 

29 



Social New York Under the Georges 

have the prospect of the neighbouring gardens, objects on 
the river, etc., which to some men would be no disagreeable 
amusement, and all without going from home." 

This public-spirited citizen next has a few words 
to say about methods of building. We gather that 
the upper part of the roof had a considerable space 
on which a man with care could walk from end to 
end and side to side, but this left much to be desired 
in comfort and safety, for these roofs not being en- 
closed with rails, and having a considerable slope or 
descent, a man could walk well enough in the day 
and in dry weather, but when rendered slippery in 
wet or frosty weather, those who ventured there risked 
their lives, especially in the hurry and confusion of 
fire. The writer therefore recommended his fellow 
citizens to heed God's ordinance in Deuteronomy 
xxii, 8. " When thou l)uildest a new house, then thou 
shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring 
not blood upon thy house if any man fall from thence." 
He continues : 

" How would it cut a man to the heart to see his friend lie 
bleeding in the street when he might by a small charge and 
reasonable care have prevented it ! If a man is not utterly 
void of compassion and gratitude to his benefactor, or sym- 
pathy for his friend, he must needs feel a sting in his breast 
upon and after such an unhappy accident ; — besides the great 
discouragement it gives others to be active on the like occasion. 
To the honour of the inhabitants of this city, be it spoken, that 
their dexterity and readiness in extinguishing of fires is singu- 
larly remarkable, and generally attended with great success, 
even beyond what might be hoped for. 

" Upon the first touch of the fire bell, how soon do our 
streets swarm with men from all parts! and their wilhngness 
and expeditious behaviour has even surprised the strangers 

30 



Aspects of the Small Town 

amongst us who have seen it." [The writer then proceeds to 
cite many instances of threatening fires that were put out with 
remarkable skill and bravery, and pays a handsome compliment 
to the firemen and authorities. He then passes on to show how 
a man's house may be made reasonably safe. He invokes the 
Legislature, first, to offer a premium to him who shall make 
by a limited date one thousand of the best tiles ;] " also a bounty 
to any merchant imjiorting any quantity in proportion to what 
parcel he imports. As there is plenty of clay in this province . . . 
in the space of six years, a sufficient quantity of tile might, by 
the like encouragement be procured ; especially since the break- 
ing up of the war affords us a number of idle hands. Let me 
add here for information of some that know it not that several 
houses in this town have been tiled with very good pantiles 
made at Albany, as cheap as they could be had from Holland. 
Witness Mr. Bayard's Sugar House." 

He next proposes a tax on all houses roofed with 
shingles, and a bounty on so much a foot for every 
house covered with tiles : " Roofs I say, because the 
enable ends of some houses are decked with shing-les 
against X. E. storms and rains where tiles cannot be 
used. . . . But the flat sort of tile, such as is generally 
used in the Citv of London is preferred before the 
hollow sort as being easiest made and therefore cheap- 
est." The writer goes on to draw unfavourable com- 
parisons between the houses of his day and those for- 
merly built here : 

"The last fire in Duke Street could not have been so soon 
mastered had it not been for the tiled houses on each side, and 
a large high roof likewise tiled a little to leeward of the fire was 
looked on as a check. That very house would have stood but 
an ordinary chance to have escaped had it been shingled. Here 
observe the care and circumspection of our forefathers in cov- 
ering their houses in such a manner as affords daily proofs of 
their prudence when we their sons are indolent and degenerate ; 

31 



Social New York Under the Georges 

we must praise their prudence, but our children will blame our 
folly." [Our reformer next suggests that if there are any ob- 
jections against pantiles or flat tiles, such as the expense, or 
lack of time to procure them, even then Nature has sufficiently 
furnished us with means of security by giving us plenty of very 
good slate, since there are several places on the North River 
where there is as much slate to be had as would load a thou- 
sand ships.] 

It may be that the solicitude shown by this 
writer for the improvement of roofing in New York 
is not entirely disinterested, for having reached this 
point of employing slate, he interpolates : " Any 
mason or others who desire to know the method of 
cutting and laving on of slate, may be informed by 
signifying his desire in this paper." 

Next comes the question as to the means of rais- 
ing the premiums to be paid for the manufacture of 
tiles. Five hundred pounds would probably suffice 
and this might be easily raised by taxing shingled 
houses. Besides this, there might be "a tax on 
coaches and chaises kept for pleasure generally by 
able men ; a tax on luxury and extravagances ; a duty 
on shingles, and other things that might easily bear 
it ; as an extravagance in dress in particular." 

In 1 76 1, it was enacted that houses erected in the 
city after Jan. ist, 1766 should be made of stone or 
brick, and roofed with tile or slate, under a penalty 
of /50. The reason given for this law was " the fre- 
quent instances of the extcnsiv^e destruction made by 
fire in many populous cities. . . . And there being 
reason to apprehend that great part of this city, from 
the number of the houses in the same being roofed 
with shingles is peculiarly exposed to the rage of 

32 



Aspects of the Small Town 

that dreadful element." The enforcement of this law 
was, however, deferred till Jan. ist, 1774. The reason 
given in 1765 was that "a sufficient quantity of slate 
or tile cannot at present, be had, or procured, to cover, 
or roof the houses and buildings that are yearly erected 
within this city." 

It appears that the legislature adopted some of 
the suggestions of the above writer, for in March, 
1774, it was announced that "the money arising from 
the .Vet laying a tax on dogs and cats in this city and 
€ountv, passed last session, is to be given as a bounty 
for the making of tile for covering houses in this 
place." An Act was also passed regulating the size 
of bricks. The consequence was that in April, 1774, 
the papers stated that the hard sort of bricks had 
risen from twenty-eight to forty shillings per thou- 
sand, and the soft sort from sixteen to thirty shillings. 

One of the peculiarities of early New York archi- 
tecture, both without and within the houses, was the 
use of tiles. This especially struck Madam Knight 
when she visited the city in 1707. She noticed that 
the bricks in the houses were of various colours and 
arranged in patterns, and she remarked upon the tiled 
hearths and mantel-trees and noticed that the stair- 
cases were even laid with white tile. This, of course, 
was Dutch in origin, and the use of this form of deco- 
ration continued in many of the houses. Although 
we have seen the complaints that were made against 
the extensiv^e use of shingles, it is manifest that some 
of the houses were constructed with the more solid 
materials. Tiles, both for roofing and for ornament- 
ing the chimney, are frequently advertised. 
-^ 33 



Social New York Under the Georges 

In 1749, "Scripture tiles with the chapter and 
some plain white ones" are for sale. In 1766, John 
Franklin offers "a quantity of yellow brick and best 
blue glazed Holland roof tiles," Another advertise- 
ment of the day reads : 

" Plain tyles to cover Buildings, made by Daniel Hendrick- 
son, at Middletown Point, the same sort as are made use of ni 
and are the Soundest and most lasting covering made use of 
(except the best light sort of Slate) and are generally preferable 
to the Boston Slate, being lighter and cheaper. No weather can 
penetrate if properly laid, and are the safest of any covermg 
against Fire being not subject to fiy by any heat. To be sold 
by J. Edward Prayor near Commissary Lakes, at the North 
River, New York, or by the above maker, where also may be 
had in the Spring, choice rubbing Bricks for uniting arches, or 
any Mouldings for Cornices; will also stand Fire for Ovens or 
Furnaces." 

It has often been remarked how strangely old 
customs survive. The change of residence on the 
First of May was as usual in the Eighteenth as in 
the Twentieth Century. .\ surprising instance of 
this occurs in 1734, when the "printer apologizes 
for the shortness of the Weeklv Journal, he being; 
obliged to follow the custom of the town at May 
Day, and change his habitation." 

Occasionally we get a glimpse of the rent re- 
quired for certain houses. Thus in 1754, there is to 
be let " A verv large house in King Street, next door 
to the Hon. Daniel Horsmanden Esq. ; as it stood 
empty last year, if anv good familv wants it for the 
present year, they may have it for /,'2o, paving the 
tax and keeping it in repair. It used to be let for 
/48 a year." 

34 



Aspects of the Small Town 

Another new brick house in King Street was to 
he sold about the same date. It rented for ^50 ])er 
annum. In I^V-bruary, 1764, the editor of the Gazette 
noted that he liad heard there were more houses to 
be let in the City than there had been at any time 
for seven years past. It would appear that the rent 
question occasionally caused friction in the commu- 
nity. In 1749, we find an interesting address to a 
Hebrew who had moved into a new neighbourhood 
and found himself an unwelcome guest because he 
had made good use of his talents for business. An 
interesting side light is thrown on local customs in 
this document : 

" To the Israelite of the Tribe of Judah, lately removed 
near Fudge's Corner. 

Sir, 

As It has been a custom for many years past to address 
new neighbours, we do out of mere form congratulate you into 
this our neighbourhood, but wish you may not answer the 
character given you by some people. We are informed you 
have made it a practice of late years to overbid many persons in 
their rents, whereby they have been put to great trouble and ex-^ 

pense we are assuredly informed that you was the first 

person discovered to be guilty of that most scandalous practice. 

Alas! J e, from the gay appearance and haughty 

spirit of your consort, we imagine your pu'rse will soon be 
exhausted, we would therefore advise you to use proper means 
to prevent it before it is too late. We blame you much for 
hiring your now dwelling-house at so great a rent and for a 
term of years, when it is probable rents will fall at least one- 
half, we advise you therefore to pay your rent as it becomes 
due, otherwise the consequences may prove abortive. 

It is become a custom with us to invite our new neighbours 
members of our club, but as we are informed you are a com- 
mon disturber, we decline paying you that compliment." 

'> r 
03 




Iver tea-kettle and stand (i762-'63) owned by the Ver Planck family, 
now by Mrs. Louis Fitzgerald. 

See page 143. 



Aspects of the Small Town 



In the same year, it is announced that a numl)er of 
tenants propose to form a small club contributino- 6d. 
a piece for a ducking-stool for any one who agrees to 
give a higher rent than the present tenant, in vnew of 
the base prevalent practice of raising house-rents by 
means either of a tenant taking a house over another's 
head by offering a higher rent, or else the landlord's 
baser ])ractice of saying so, in order to raise it. 

Before closing this chapter, it may be well to 
enumerate the buildings that existed in the citv to- 
wards the end of the period under review. In 1766, 
as has already been stated, New York contained 3223 
houses. The churches included Trinitv Church, St. 
Paul's Church (which was not yet completed), St. 
George's Chapel, the Old and the New Dutch 
Churches, a synagogue, and churches or meeting- 
liouses of the French, Presbyterians, German Cahin- 
ists, Seceders, or Scotch Presbyterians, Anabaptists, 
Moravians, and Quakers. The Lutherans also had 
two places of worship. Then there was the "Gov- 
ernor's Palace" at Fort George, King's College, the 
Alms House, Exchange, New Gaol, Hospital at the 
Battery and the Barracks. 

There were five markets, known as Coenties, Old 
Slip, Fly, Oswego and New. Lastly, there was the 
City Hall. tiere the General Assembly and the 
Council met, the Supreme Court and the Mayor's 
Court were held, and a public lit)rarv was kei)t. 
The domestic mail service was good. The post- 
master of New York had a good deal of business to 
attend to. He frequently advertises the names of 
many (sometimes hundreds) of jieople for whom 

n 



Social New York Under the Georges 

letters are lying in his office. It seems to have been 
a custom for him to extend credit for the delivery of 
these in many cases, since he sometimes announces 
he can give no more. The following announcement 
supplies us with the particulars for the year 1753 : 

" The Post Office will be removed on Thursday next to the 
house of Mr. Alexander Golden, opposite to the Bowling Green 
in the Broad-Way, where the Rev. Mr. Pemberton lately lived ; 
where letters will be received and delivered out every day 
(Saturday afternoon till the arrival of the posts and Sundays 
excepted) from 8 to 12 a. ]\i. and from 2 to 4 p. isi. except on 
post nights when attendance will be given till 10 p. m. And 
all letters for persons living in town that remain uncalled for 
on post nights, will, on Monday morning be sent out by a 
penny post provided for that purpose. 

N. B. No credit in future will be given for postage of 
letters." 

Regular communication was kept up with Eng- 
land by packet-boats that plied between New York 
and Falmouth. The mails carried by these were 
made up both in London and New York on the 
second Saturday in every month. New York des- 
patched mails to Boston every Monday and Thurs- 
day ; to Albany, on Monday ; and to Philadelphia, on 
Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The names of the 
Falmouth packets at that date were : The Lord Hyde 
(Capt. Goddard) ; The Harriott (Capt. Robinson) ; 
The Dit/ce of Cumberland (Capt. Goodridge) ; and 
The Earl of Half ax (Capt. Bolderson). 

There was a great deal of coming and going 
between New York and ports in Great Britain. Dis- 
tinguished officials and members of the English 
nobility were frequent visitors. We often find notices 

38 



Aspects of the Small Town 



of titled Britishers who are touring in the Colonies. 
A distinguished passenger list in 1769 included: the 
Duchess of Gordon, who had become the wife of 
Staats Long Morris, of the Morrisania family and 
had made a trip on horseback with him to the head- 
waters of the Susquehanna ; Lady Moore ; Miss 
Franks, Miss Burges, Miss Connor, Capt. Davis, 
Capt. Stanton, and about twenty others. 




39 



IV 

COUNTRY-SEATS AND FARMS 

Attractive and delightful as the city itself un- 
doubtedly was, the country beyond must have been 
still more charming. Manhattan Island as well as 
Staten Island, the Jersey shore and Long Island were 
dotted with country-seats, mansions and farm-houses 
pleasantly situated in fine grounds. In many cases 
these estates were comparativ^ely small in area, as 
their owners did not depend on farming for a living, 
but had offices, shops or counting-houses in New 
York. They could come to town by boat, or drive, 
reaching their places of official or commercial busi- 
ness from lo to II A. -M. and leaving in time to dine 
from 2 to 3 p. m. 

The great majority of the wealthy citizens were 
interested in the shipping business directly or indi- 
rectly. Even if they did not build or own trading 
ships, or privateers, they were generally direct im- 
porters. Everybody tried to make money, and ladies 
of the best families had shops of their own. Ease 
and luxury at home were cultivated, and in most 
cases the mansions were situated within reach of all 
that earth, forest and sea could yield. This will be 
made plain by a few descriptions of this class of real 
estate : 

40 



Aspects of the Small Town 

"A Large Brick House well furnished (where Mr. James 
Harding lately lived) near New York Ferry, on Long Island, 
with a large Barn well covered with Cedar, a large Hand- 
some Garden, and about Ten Acres of Land in a fine young Or- 
chard, finely situated either for a gentleman's country-seat or a 
Publick House, is to be sold at a Reasonable Rate by Edward 
Willet, the owner thereof." (1732.) 

"The plantation of the late Captain Thomas Coddrington, 
of 30 acres of land and two out lots of 8 acres each, orchard, 
dwelling-house, etc. in the bounds of Harlem, 5 miles from 
the town, S. E. side of the island. Plenty of lobsters and fish 
near the house." (1738.) 

" An estate at Whitestone, near Flushing, very pleasantly 
situated on the Sound, consisting of a good dwelling-house, 
stable, chair-house, »S:c. with or without a large storehouse, 
wharf, etc., a garden of two acres walled in and well laid out 
with the best of fruit trees, gravel and grass walks, asparagus 
beds, flowering shrubs, flowers, etc., a large orchard, with mow- 
ing and pasture land." (1753.) 

"A farm for sale, a quarter of a mile beyond Flushing on 
the road to Whitestone Ferry, containing no acres whereof 20 
acres are in wood, and a growing swamp, lying little better 
than a mile from the house, 7 acres of salt meadow close by 
and the rest all in one body within a good stone ditch .... with 
a good and convenient dwelling-house, barn, milch, hen and 
pidgeon house well stocked with pidgeons; a curious flower 
and kitchen garden, orchard and mowing ground before the 
door; a well with a pump in the yard and a living spring a 
stone throw from the door and many other conveniences fit for 
any gentleman." (1754.) 

"To be let May next: The farm or Plantation belonging 
to the Estate of Joseph Bowne, late of Flushing, deceased, con- 
taining 40 acres of choice Upland and Meadow, all in good 
Fence : There is on it a commodious, large Dwelling-house, 
furnished with nine Rooms, five of which have Fireplaces with 
a large Kitchen adjoining to the same; likewise, a good bearuig 
Orchard, with a variety of Fruit trees also a good Barn. Store- 
house, and other Out-Houses." (1760.) 

41 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Mr. Bayard's, described below, was a good ex- 
ample of an ordinary country-seat near New York 
in the middle of the century (^1760) : 

"To be let: The island called Hoobock in New Jersey, di- 
rectly opposite the City of New York, lying on Hudson's River, 
containing between 700 and 800 acres, two-thirds of which is 
upland and one-third salt meadow. It is in the best order, 
has on it a garden of about five acres filled with a choice col- 
lection of English fruit, such as peaches, pears, plums, cherries, 
necterns and apricots. There is on it a very large dwelling- 
house, which the landlord keeps himself; and another very 
good one adjoining, both under one roof, which latter hires 
with the island; and under the whole are very large convenient 
cellars, together with an extraordinary kitchen. A few feet dis- 
tance from the dwelling is a large new kitchen which has three 
rooms on each side, therefore more fitting for a family, having 
also the same conveniences as above mentioned ; likewise the 
most commodious dairy for at least 30 cows. 

" There are also other out-houses, as a new smoke house, 
fowl house, a large stable with stalls for ten horses on one 
side, and a fine roomly place on the other to work in when dirty 
weather, over which is a granary with apartments for all kinds 
of grain, and at the contrary end a hay-loft which will contain 
a great quantity of hay, besides all which there is a very large 
roomly barn for cows on the one side, and another for horses on 
the other. There are likewise on the farm a good cider mill and 
house over it, the loft of which will hold about 20 load of hay. 

"There will be let with the premises a good wagon, cart, 
ploughs, harrows and farm utensils of every sort; as also 100 
good sheep, among which are English rams ; also 30 good 
milch cows and 30 head of cattle from one to four years old. 

" Besides an old orchard, which in good years w'ill produce 
70 or 80 barrels of cider, there are also set out near i.ooo apple 
trees, all grafted with the best of fruits, some of which bore 
last year. 

"This farm has a right in Bergen Commons, to turn out 
what cattle you please, and be supplied with timber for fencing 

42 



Aspects of the Small Town 



and firing; is finely supplied with fish and oysters in the great- 
est abundance all around it, and scarce anything in America 
can equal its convenience for marketing, as in good weather 
you may cross, take one time with another, in half an hour; 
and in the different seasons of the year abound with plenty of 
wild fowl; and the farm itself all in good clover. Of the salt 
hay may be mowed at least 500 loads per year, and of fresh at 
present 60, but more may be brought. (Apply to William 
Bayard, living in New York). There will also be let a good 
pettiauger and canoe. 

" The said Bayard has also on it 20 fat hogs, 6 head of fat 
cattle and a pair of fine o.xen, besides some hundred bushels of 
corn, buckwheat, turnips and fresh and salt hay." 

Another advertisement is of a 

'' Farm on Staten Island, 160 acres, house 45X37; in the 
Front a Dining-Room and Parlour, and in the rear, three Bed- 
rooms, two of which have Fireplaces. The Dining-Room is 
14X19, hung with genteel Paper; the Entry or Passage from 
the Door, is hung with the same; the Parlour is 19X^6, hung 
with Landskip Paper framed with Papier Machee. Above 
Stairs are two good Bedrooms, half Story over the Front part 
of the house; over the back part is a large Granary divided 
into two Rooms. To the House is joined by a Portal or 
Piazza, of ten feet, a new Stone Building, thirty Feet by Eight- 
een. The Part next the House is finished for a kitchen. The 
extreme End, fronting the South, is designed for a Conserva- 
tory or (Greenhouse having three Frames of Lights in the 
Front, containing sixty-six Panes of Glass, 9X11. Within one 
Inclosure next adjoining the House, is a small Orchard and 
Garden of about four Acres." This house was situated about 
a mile and a half from Johnson's Ferry upon a " Point pro- 
jecting into the River, which opens a most agreeable and ex- 
tensive Prospect." (1764.) 

" In the Out-Ward of the City of New York, near the seat 
of Mr. De Lancey, called Blootnendal, there is to be Sold a 
Plantation with a very good Stone House, Barn, and Orchard, 
containing about four or five Hundred Apple-trees and a Pair 

43 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Orchard, with a great many fine grafted Pairs. The Land is 
very well Timbered and Watered; it has a very fine Brook very 
convenient for a Fish Pond, containing about Two Hundred 
and Sixty Acres of Land and six Acres of Meadow, situate, 
lying and being near Bloonieiulal as aforesaid." (1732.) 

Another advertisement (1767) will give some idea 
of what was considered desirable in a typical house 
and grounds of the period : 

"To be sold several lots at Corlear's Hook, about one mile 
from the City, now in the tenure and occupation of Edward 
Smith. Dwelling-house, stable, fowl-house and other neces- 
saries; the house contains five rooms, four of which have fire- 
places with a good oven in the kitchen, there is a well in the 
yard 36 feet deep and stoned up all the way, with a new pump. 
The rest of the land is laid out in a spacious garden, which 
the present possessor has spared no pains to render both agree- 
able and profitable, in it there is near 300 fruit trees all in 
bearing order, consisting of apples, pears, plumbs, peaches, 
nectarines, apricots, quinces and English cherries; all of the 
choicest fruit and in great variety; likewise great plenty of 
currants, gooseberries, raspberries and English strawberries of 
the different sorts ; also eighteen beds of the best Battersea 
asparagus, in full growth for cutting, besides many thousands 
of puny plants fit for transplanting the ensuing season with a 
nursery of several thousand young trees, many of them inocu- 
lated with the best kinds of fruit; there is also 100 hills of 
hops which may be cultivated to good account with little 
trouble; likewise a root cellar 22 feet by 11 stoned up all 
around ; also a summer house and alcove — the whole is in good 
board fence and is one of the pleasantest situations about the 
city as it commands a view of the East River and harbour 
from Staten Lsland almost to Hell Gate." 

These farms or estates, therefore, were provided 
with all that could make life pleasant and luxurious. 
Gardens, greenhouses, fish-ponds, sometimes wharves, 
stables, paddocks, and, occasionally, deer-parks. 

44 



Aspects of the Small Town 

An example of a New York Colonial countrv- 
house is shown in the frontispiece. This was built in 
1748 bv Frederick van Cortlandt. It enables us to 
form a clear idea of the average solid mansion of the 
period. 

The islands in the bav and river formed one of 
the important features of the landscape. Where the 
statue of Liberty now stands was a pleasant and 
profitable spot in the old days. At one time it be- 
longed to Captain Kennedy, afterwards Earl of Cas- 
silis. It is thus described in i 753 : 

"To be Let. Bedloe's Island, alias Love Island, together 
with the dwelling-house and light-house, being finely situated 
for a tavern, where all kind of garden stuff, poultry, etc., may 
be easily raised for the shipping, outward bound, and from 
where any quantity of pickled oysters may be transported; it 
abounds with English rabbits." 

Governor's Island, then known as Nutten Island, 
was both useful and ornamental. The channel between 
it and New York was very shallow ; in fact, at low 
tide, cattle used to walk from one to the other. The 
Council set it apart as a private domain for the governor 
of this province. Governor Cosby used it as a game 
preserve. In 1738, the legislature passed an Act to 
preserve the breed of English pheasants in this colonv. 
This act declares that " whereas the late Governor 
[Cosby] did place about a half a dozen coujile of 
English pheasants on Nutten Island and first ])inioned 
them to the end that they might remain there to 
l)r()j)agate their species with a view that their increase 
would spread from thence and stock the count r\' with 
their kind ; 

45 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" And whereas, the said fowls not only have increased 
vastly on the said island, but many of them already spread over 
to Nassau Island, and in all probability will soon stock the 
country if people are restrained from destroying them for a 
few years, the present Governor being also desirous that the 
whole colony may be stocked with these birds," it was enacted 
that no birds should be killed nor eggs taken for a year. The 
experiment was not a success. 

The first bridge connecting New York with the 
mainland was the King's Bridge, across the Harlem 
River, erected by Frederick Phillipse at the close of 
the Seventeenth Century. It was a toll-bridge and 
the charges were ninepence for each carriage ; three- 
j)ence for each horse and head of cattle ; and one 
penny for a person. The people objected to the toll 
and also to the fact that the gates were locked at 
night. However, this was the only crossing until 
1759, when Free Bridge Dyckman's was opened. 
This had been built by several private individuals 
upon Jacob Dyckman's land, a little to the south of 
the King's Bridge, from which the toll was lifted 
almost immediately. 

The oldest ferrv was from the present Peck Slip 
to the Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn, but no ferry-house 
was erected until 1698, when one was built on Nas- 
sau Island (Long Island), "a good sufficient house 
of stone and brick, forty foot in length and twentv- 
four in breadth, for ye accomodation and conven- 
iency of ye persons that farmeth ye said Ferrv." The 
" farmer" kept it as a public house of entertainment. 
The j^oint where the people from Brooklyn were 
landed, " Burgher's Path," the " first slip," was known 
subsequently as the " Old Slip." Ferry-boats landed 

46 



Aspects of the Small Town 



here in 1703, and also at "Countess Key" (Fly 
Market). 

About 1732, the ferry rates between Lono; Island 
were twopenee for every person and double that rate 
after sunset ; for every horse or beast, one shillin]rj ; 
calf or hog, three pence ; dead sheep, lamb or calf, 
twopence ; bushel of grain, one j)ennv ; every waggon, 
five shillings ; for every gammon of bacon, turkey 
or goose, one half-jK'nny ; and for cverv hundred 
eggs, three eggs. 

The Ferry at the foot of the Fly Market had be- 
come so congested with boats in 1761 that it was 
found necessary to pass a law "that no sloop, boat 
or vessel, except small craft such as ferr}^-boats, mar- 
ket-boats, pettiaugers and canoes shall come within 
the sli})." Tiie penalty was fortv shillings. This gives 
us some idea regarding the size of the ferry-boats. 

In 1772, the city agreed to establish ferries "from 
Coenties Market to the landing-place of Philij^ Liv- 
ingston, Esq., and Mr. Henry Remsen on Nassau 
Island ; another from Flv Market to the ])resent 
ferry at Brooklyn, and a third from ' Peck Shj^ ' to 
land at the place last mentioned."' Two years later 
Saint George's Ferrv was provided " from a stairs 
directly fronting the Broatl Street at the east side of 
the Long Bridge, and on Long Island at a stairs built 
at the dock of Mr. Remsen." 

The slips were Whitehall, named from Colonel 
Moore's large house which was neai- bv ; Coenties, 
named for Coen and Antey (Conrad and Jane) l\'n 
Evck, who lived at the corner of Little Dock Street ; 
Burling, named for the Quaker Merchant, Edward 

47 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Burling ; Beekman, named for the family of that 
name ; Peck, named for Benjamin Peck, a wealthy 
citizen ; and one slip on the Hudson side at the foot 
of Oswego (now Liberty) Street. 

In addition to these, there were ferries to Powles 
Hook, Perth Amboy and Staten Island. Some idea 
of the latter may be gathered from the following 
announcement : 

"Staten Island, 1767. 

"The subscriber (John Watson) intending to remove to 
New York, will dispose of the Ferry and Farm he now lives on, 
being on the East End of Staten Island. 

" In regard to a ferry, it is the best situated on the Island, 
as the boats can go and come from New York with most winds, 
and but one tide to encounter with, which is of great ease to 
the passengers, and is the reason that it is more frequented 
than any of the rest of the ferries; it has also a considerable 
run for carrying passengers to Long Island, which brings a 
handsome yearly income. Most of the shipping that goes out 
of New York anchors just opposite the door, being the anchor- 
ing ground for the watering-place, which makes it not only very 
pleasant, but of considerable advantage to the place, in carry- 
ing the passengers and ships crews backwards and forwards to 
New York. It also occasions a great run to the house which is 
the very sinew of a tavern. The boats that attend this ferry 
are often employed to run down to the Hook with despatches 
for vessels that may be there; and the men of war which often 
lie here, employ them to bring their ships' stores, etc. from New 
York. There is an excellent dock for the conveniency of the 
boats ; and the best roads on the island are from this place to Am- 
boy, the old and new Blazing-Star and Elizabeth-Town Point." 

A ferry from Perth Amboy to Staten Island was 
provided in 1737. The rates were fourteen pence 
(Jersey currency) for man and horse, and fivepence 
for a single passenger. 

48 



PART II 
HOUSES AND FURNITURE 



PART II 
HOUSES AND FURNITURE 



I 

la'IDEXCES OF LUXURIOUS LIVING 

Before 1700, New York already numbered among 
her eitizens manv rich merchants. As early as 1674, 
there were ninety-four burghers whose estates were 
valued at more than a thousand guilders each ; and 
twentv-two of these estates represented between live 
and ten thousand guilders. Johannes van Burgh, 
Jacob Leisler and Johannes de Peyster were each 
worth about fifteen thousand. The other rich mer- 
chants were Cornelis van Ruvven (18,000) ; Jeroninus 
Ebbing (30,000) ; John Lawrence (40,000) ; Olaf van 
Cortlandt (45,000) ; Nicholas de Meyer (50,000) ; 
Cornelis Steenwyck (50,000); and Hendrick Philip- 
sen (80,000). 

Wealth was rapidlv accumulated from the fin- and 
timber trade and from general barter. Twelve years 
later, Mr. Steenwyck was worth about ^,"16,000, an 
immense sum in those days. By 1700, there were a 
good manv burghers whose estates amounted to 
^5,000. John Spratt (1697) with an estate of /,"3.779 
and Col. Lewis Morris (1691) with /"4,928, are in- 
stances of opulent Britishers. 

53 



Social New York Under the Georges 



An examination of the inventories shows that 
wealth and luxury were not despised. Men came 
here to make money, and they spent it lavishly on 
tlieir homes and persons. They went richly and 
fashionably dressed, and their homes were provided 
with every comfort, convenience and ornament it was 
possible to procure. Their wives wore dresses of rich 
material and had costly jewelry ; their walls were 
adorned with fine pictures by Dutch masters ; their 
tables were bright with massive silver ; and their 
rooms were full of fine furniture of English, Dutch 
and Oriental manufacture. 

Queen Mary is generally credited with setting the 
taste in England for porcelains and other Eastern 

wares when she had 
shelves and cabinets 
fitted up in Hampton 
Court on taking up her 
residence there in 1690. 
Long before this, how- 
ever, porcelain and lac- 
quer ware were found 
in New York houses, 
and sometimes in con- 
siderable quantities. As 
the English element 
began to predominate, 
merchants of that na- 
tion grew rich in in- 
creasing numbers and 
luxurv and fashion became more pronounced. The 
governors who came here were men of birth, breeding 

54 




Rush-bottom and leather chairs ; in 
the Museum of the New York 
Colonial Dames. See page i i o 



Houses and Furniture 



and education, and accustomed to the best that wealth 
and fashion could give. Bellomont was a friend of 
King WiUiani ; Cornbuiy was a Royal rake of the 
iirst order; Hunter was a wit and beau; Burnet was 
a friend and suj)porter of the House of Hanovx'r 
before the accession of George I. ; and all the other 
governors, including De Lancey, had been accustomed 
to the best society and familiar with kings' courts. 

The picture so often drawn of the goodwife spin- 
ninii in the kitchen, which forms the general livino- 
room of the house, is therefore misleading when we 
are dealing with the wealthy class. The latter lived 
in fine houses in town with adjoining gardens, stables 
and offices, or had country-seats not far from the city 
where they were in easy reach of business. There 
were very few of them who were not engaged in 
shipping or foreign trade of some kind. They made 
money in all sorts of ways ; farming was the least 
of their activities. In fact, farming on a large scale 
was not possible, l)ecause the area of land around 
their country-seats was usuallv comparatively small. 

Take, for instance, the country-seat of Alexander 
Colden, Esq. It is described as " situate on Nassau 
Island, fronting and commanding a fine view of the 
harbour and city of New York. It consists of a 
dwelling-house and about nine acres of excellent 
land. The house is large and commodious, and the 
offices numerous and convenient. In the garden and 
orchard are choice collections of fruits, and of the 
best Newtown, Spitzenburg and oth(M- apple-trees ; 
and towards the river on a wharf newly erected are 
a stoi-ehouse and boat house." 

55 



Social New York Under the Georges 



The merchants and gentry of New York were 
always ready for a trade venture that promised |)rolit. 
It must be confessed also that thev were not always 
ov^er scrupulous. They would traffic with pirates and 
send supplies to their haunts ; and notwithstanding 
prohibitions, they would barter firearms and fire-water 
with the Indians. They did not hesitate to evade 
the laws of trade, such as customs, when thev could 
safely do so ; and sometimes they were publiclv ac- 
cused of giving aid and comfort to the King's enemies 
by furnishing the French and Spanish with provi- 
sions, arms and munitions of war. Their privateering 
ventures also prospered ; and the result of this mis- 
cellaneous foreign and domestic trade was that the 
riches, luxuries and elegances of two hemispheres 
were landed on the wharves of New York. 

The simplest way to gain a clear idea of the in- 
terior of the wealthier homes of citizens during the 
Eighteenth Centurv is to examine a few of the in- 
ventories of men in different stations of life ; — official, 
mercantile and professional — beginning early in the 
century. 

Let us note for the sake of future comparison the 
possessions of one Cornelis Jacobs in 1700, who was 
worth ^1953-19-3. He owned a cedar chest worth 
^3 ; six leather and six cane chairs, /"6 ; three ham- 
mocks, £2 ; a chest-of-drawers, two stands and a 
table, £"] \ a walnut table, ^i-io-o; three looking- 
glasses, ^3-12-0; five pictures, £2; a whitewood 
bedstead with furniture, including a speckled silk 
coverlid, ^12-7-0; a pair of brass andirons and iron 
frame, ^1-4-0 ; i pair of andirons and i pair of dogs,, 

56 



Houses and Furniture 



/!^i-io-o ; I cu})l)()ai(l and lignum-vitiL' j)unclil)u\vl, 
£2\ a bedstead and furniture, /'j-io-o; a ehildren's 
bedstead and furniture, /,"i-io-o; a table and six old 
chairs, lo shillings; a brass lamp, 3 shillings; i glass 
case, three shillings ; two chimney cloths, 10 shillings ; 
a white muslin cloth for chest of drawers, ^,"0-7-6 ; 
and a great deal of brassware, pewter, china, earthen- 
ware and linen. 

Mr. Jacobs was a good example of an ordinary 
Dutchman, for he had a few luxuries. His books 
were worth no less than 
/,"6, and his 295^ ounces of 
wrought plate, ^,"103-8-6. 
He possessed wrought and 
unwrought gold equal to 
^32-5-0 ; a watch valued 
at £\ ; two East India 
small trinkets, /,"2-io-o; 
a " cokernut " shell tipped 
with silver, ^i ; a silver- 
headed sword, ^3-10-0; 
two canes, £y, two clasped 
books, /2-10-0; "achaine 
of pearl," ^5 ; a feather 
tippet, /1-4-0 ; a silver 
box and four buttons, 




Six-legged high case-of-drawers in 
the Museum of the New York 
Colonial Dames. See page i 09. 



/'0-19-3 ; "a china lack- 
ered bowl," /0-3-0 ; two tortoiseshell combs, 
/o-io-o; and a great deal of money, some of it 
Arabian and Spanish. His house, kitchen and ground 
were valued at ^300. 

Turning to an English household in Queen Anne's 

57 



Social New York Under the Georges 

rei^n, let us see what Col. William Smith of St. 
George's, Suffolk Co., owned in 1705. He was worth 
^2589-4-0. To begin with, he had six bedsteads, 
the handsomest hung with silk and valued at ^30, 
and three, worth ;{^20, furnished with fine calico cur- 
tains. He had a " landskip screen," ^2-10-0; a 
handsome chest of drawers of walnut and olive wood, 
^"15, and two other chests of drawers, /'2-15-0; one 
large Japanned looking-glass, ^10, and two others 
^'0-15-0; fifty-two chairs, seven of which are large 
elbow chairs, thirteen leather, and twenty-three cane, 
altogether ^27-1-1 ; a number of feather beds and a 
good deal of household linen ; seven bed quilts, one 
of which was of silk and worth ^^8. 

He owned five fine twisted rugs valued at ^'35 ; 
seventeen flannel blankets worth ^i each ; silk and 
other cushions, ^3-10-0; three Turkey-work carpets 
and a blue cloth carpet, ^4 ; a table, two comb boxes 
and two powder boxes, ^3; a "silk twilite " for a 
tal)le and 8|- yards of silk, ^'4 ; pictures worth 
^3-10-0 ; holland muslin and cambric, ^^^5 ; an hour- 
glass and two cases of knives, ^1-4-0; six great 
black leather trunks, ^'6 ; another one, and also two 
large hair and three small hair trunks, ^^4-10-0; four 
large cases and bottles, /^6 ; i case \"enice glasses, 
^3; and books, ^4^ - silver plate, ^^150; pewter, 
pr2o ; chinaware, ^,'5 ; and flint glasses, ^3-14-0. 

Among his miscellaneous articles, we may note a 
violin, worth ^3 ; a fishing-rod, two screws for letters 
and two pewter standishes ; a silver hiltcd cane, ^'3 ; 
a blunderbuss and some pistols ; three swords, /8 ; a 
Turkey scimiter, ^5-10-0; a large compass, two per- 

^8 



Mouses and Furniture 



spcctive glasses; an instrument to try pearls, 12 shil- 
lings ; a loadstone and a touehstone, £2 ; and two 
silk colours and two drums, £1^- ^^i^ wearing 
apparel was valued at /109; and, in addition, he 
owned two seals, /,"2 ; 104 silver buttons, ^5-10-0; 
a silver watch and gold buttons, ^5-10-0; eleven 
embroidered belts, /, 1 10 ; two razor cases, and a hone, 
and sixteen razors, £^. 

Colonel Smith was one of the residents who 
owned a coach, which, with cushions and harness, 
equaled ^40 ; and a number of saddles, valued at 
/'i 2-10-0, amono- which was a velvet saddle and a 
velvet side saddle worth £\.o. 

Judging from this list of articles, even in the days 
of Queen Anne, when the town was amused or 
shocked at the pranks of her kinsman, the wild Lord 
Cornburv, there was considerable wealth and luxury, 
which had increased very greatly by the time George 
I. ascended the throne. Four years after the latter 
event (1718), Captain Giles Shelly of New York had 
the following household furniture. As he was a very 
rich man, worth no less than ^6812-16-7^, it is not 
surprising to see that he had surrounded himself with 
every comfort. Among his goods, were five bed- 
steads. One had red china curtains ; one was a sack- 
ing bedstead with blue shalloon curtains ; one, a 
cano])y bedstead with silk muslin curtain and white 
muslin inside curtain and valance ; another, with a 
head and tester cloth ; and the last, a sacking-bottom 
bedstead with a suit of striped muslin curtains lined 
with calico, a chintz quilt going with the latter. 

He had seventy chairs: one red plush elbow, one 

59 



Social New York Under the Georges 

easy-chair, two elbow chairs, six of Turkey-work, 
twenty-one of cane, and twenty-seven matted, and 
twelve of leather. One cane couch was also among 
his possessions. Then there were thirteen tables : 
one, a small oval, one a large painted oval and one a 
large oval ; one clock and case ; one repeating clock ; 
six looking-glasses, two pairs of sconces, one of which 
was gilt ; a hanging candlestick ; a pair of brass 
candlesticks with snuffers ; two trays for tea ; a brass 
lantern; " a brass hearth with hooks for shovel and 
tongs ; " a dressing-box ; two chests-of-drawers ; a 
chest-of-drawers and looking-glass ; a dog painted on 
a board ; two warming-pans ; seventy-four pictures, 
some in black and some in gilt frames, some black 
prints and " one landskip chimney piece ; " five chests ; 
three Turkey-carpets ; three pairs muslin curtains and 
valance ; four calico curtains with valance and chim- 
ney cloth ; a flowered muslin toilet ; a suit of calico 
curtains; a red and gold satin carpet ; an embroidered 
counterpane ; three pair of arras hangings ; " the arras 
hangings from the Bowery ;" four hand fire-screens 
a parcel of sand-glasses ; a red rug ; a prospect glass ; 
and manv feather beds, handsome brass hearth furni- 
ture, and pewter and coj^per for the kitchen. 

Fie had a case of knives and two silver-handled 
knives ; a chafing-dish ; a great deal of valuable plate, 
including a tankard of 24 oz., two silver chafing-dishes 
and a pair of silver salts. The china included a red 
tea-pot, three basons, a sugar-box, twelve images and 
"six chancy lions." Captain Shelly owned a sword, 
four small arms and a trumpet. Forty-five beer 
glasses, a punch-bowl and a pipe of canary and some 

60 



Houses and Furniture 



bitter wine show that he was fond of 2:000! cheer. 
Two pairs of tables, men and dice })rove that he was 
fond of games; two tine coacli horses, that he drove 
about the country in st\ le ; two patch-boxes, that he 
wore the fashionable mouclics upon his cheeks ; and a 
lot of jewelry, that he was fond of pretty trinkets. 
Among his curios, he had a " deer's foot tip])ed with 
gold." 

As a contrast to the home of a rich country- 
gentleman, we mav examine the belongings of Gov- 
ernor William Burnet, who died in 1729, worth 
7,4540-4-3^. His home in Perth Am boy was lux- 
urious and tilled with the most fashionable articles of 
the day, yet some of it must have belonged to an 
older period, since certain pieces of furniture are 
referred to as "much shattered." He owned two 
eight-day clocks, each valued at ^18 ; a scrutoire with 
glass doors, /,'20 ; eleven tables, one an oval of black 
walnut, another, a large one of black walnut, a third, 
a i)lain tea-table, a fourth, a japanned tea-table, a tifth, 
a small round table, a sixth, a card-table much shat- 
tered ; and others, a S(|uare table, an oval table, and a 
small square table, and j^lair. tables. 

"A fine gilt cabinet and frame much shattered" 
must have been an unusual piece of furniture for 
even in its dilapidated condition it is valued at £\2. 

This was probably one of those handsome cabi- 
nets of the Regency, or early Louis X\^. style. His 
looking-glasses and sconces seem to have been hand- 
some : one is described as lar2:e with p:lass arms ; he 
also had a small dressing-glass. His beds included 
a "coach bed with chintz curtains," worth ^^25 ; there 

61 



Social New York Under the Georges 

was another with red curtains, valued at ^lo; and a 
third, an iron bedstead, with chintz curtains, worth 
^,"7-10-0. Among other articles, were a writing-desk 
and stand, a linen-press, a horse for drying clothes, 
an old chest-of-drawers, a mattress of Russia leather, 
a brass hearth and dogs, two old checquered canvases 




Walnut chairs and writing-desk, owned bv Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin 
S. Church. See page 65. 



to lay under a table, and "a large painted canvas 
square as the room." The latter was valued at £Z. 

The Governor's chairs consisted of twenty-four 
red leather chairs with embowed backs, worth 
^28-16-0; fifteen bass bottomed chairs and a child's 
chair, eight walnut framed chairs, nine embowed or 
hollow back chairs with fine bass bottoms, ^9 ; seven 

62 



Houses and Furniture 



walnut chairs with fine bass bottoms, ^^7 ; two bass 
chairs, four ordinary chairs, and an easy chair covered 
with silk. He owned four pieces of tapestry valued 
at ^"20 ; " a tine piece of needlework representing a 
rustick ", /5 ; a fire-screen of tapestry work ; two 
paper fire-screens ; and two four-leaf screens covered 
with gilt leather, worth ^15. 

The silver, china, glass and pewter, were very 
valuable. He had no less than a dozen silver candle- 
sticks and "two branches for three lights," amount- 
ing, with other plate, to 11 72 ounces. Three dozen 
silver knives and three dozen silver forks in three 
cases were worth another ^72 ; his china and glass, 
^130-16-0 ; and the pewter was valued at ^100-2-6. 
Governor Burnet seems to have been quite a col- 
lector of pictures. He owned 151 Italian prints, 20 
" masentinto prints," besides numerous other pictures 
in black or glazed frames. 

Governor Burnet's successor, Governor Mont- 
gomerie, lived no less elegantly. He established him- 
self at Fort George, and prepared in every way to 
enjoy life, to make friends and to render his rule 
popular and brilliant. He had eight negro slaves to 
wait upon him and one to entertain him, a musician, 
worth double as much as any of the others. The 
Governor owned sixteen horses, a four-wheeled chaise 
and harness, a coach with a set of fine harness, two 
sets of travelling-harness, and a fine suit of embroid- 
ered horse-furniture with bridles, bits, etc., etc. tlis 
barge with its accoutrements, was worth ^"25 and he 
had a small four-oared boat. His wine cellar must 
have been stocked with choice vintages, since it was 

63 



Social New York Under the Georges 



valued at ^2500, and his library must also have been 
unusual, for it was estimated at /^200. 

Naturally, his dwelling was richly appointed. He 
had a fine yellow camlet bed valued at ^,'15 ; a pair of 
large sconces with gilded frames, ^,'9 ; walnut framed 
sconces and branches, £q ; an eight-day clock, ^8 ; 
a repeating table-clock, /'8 ; a large looking-glass 
with a gilt frame, ^"4 ; a gilt leather screen, ^'3 ; 
twelve leather chairs, ^,"3-1 2-0; six new black-bot- 
tomed chairs, £6 ; twelve new-fashioned matted 
chairs, ^"4-8-0 ; and six yellow chairs, — thirty-six in 
all ; a bed with l)lue china curtains ; four pairs of 
crimson harrateen window curtains and live pairs of 
yellow camlet curtains. 

Among other articles were a Japanned tea-table, a 
pair of gilded-frame sconces, a large chimney-glass, 
and a walnut card-table. Two dozen knives and 
forks, a complete set of china, Japanned fruit plates, 
cut glass cruets, water and champagne glasses, and a 
great deal of silver. His important pictures repre- 
sented Greenwich Park, a vineyard, some goats, a 
landscape, sheep-shearing, and a water scene. He 
had a parrot cage and a " Tycken " umbrella. Some 
of these articles and some additional ones were of- 
fered for sale shortly afterwards. 

Passing over a period of ten years, we mav gain 
an idea of a typical rich man's house towards the 
middle of the century, — that of Rip Van Dam, 
who had held the office of President of the Council 
and acting Governor. The house he lived in was 
worth about ^500. It was of brick and was two 
stories his^h. The worth of his household furniture 

64 



Houses and Furniture 



and negro slaves was estimated at from ^250 to ^300. 
Among his goods and chattels, he had a Japanned 
chest-of-drawers, valued at £1 ; a black walnut table, 
a looking-glass, a desk and bookcase, ten chairs, an 
elbow chair, (X4) ! ^^ clock, {£q)) ; a large table, a 
chest-of-drawers, twelve leather chairs, twelve black 
chairs, a mahogany table, a writing-desk, a screen, 
two sconces, and a backgammon table. He also 
owned a silver-hilted sword, and twelve gold rings. 
His negroes came to X50 ; and his silver to £^<^o. 

Two interesting chairs, whose style dates from 
about 1720, appear on page 62. These are walnut 
with high crown-backs, jar-shaped splats, cabriole legs 
and hoof feet. The writing-desk was given by Gen. 
Washington to Gen. Walter Stewart. They are 
owned by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Church, of 
New York. 




" Men, women, boys and girls, 
to be sold cheap." (1767.) 



65 



II 

LIVING-ROOMS AND THEIR CONTENTS 

The ordinary modest house of the period was of 
two stories with a basement. On the first floor were 
two rooms, used for the parlour and dining-room, ocea- 
sionally divided by glass doors. Up-stairs were three 
bedrooms, the extra one, of course, being a small 
one over the hall or entry. In the basement were 
the cellar-kitchen and the wine-cellar. The kitchen 
was usually in an additional back building of two 
stories, the upper one reserved for the negro slaves. 
Frequently the house had a wing fitted up as an 
office. 

A home of this tvpe was occupied by Abraham 
Lodge who had built up quite a fortune in his twenty 
years' practice as a lawyer. The house was so cor- 
rectly furnished that it may be taken as an example 
of the prosperous New York home of 1750. It was 
a two-storv brick house with basement. The hall 
contained four high-backed Windsor chairs and two 
lanterns. From it you entered the parlour, completely 
furnished in mahogany. Here were eight mahogany 
chairs with cabriole legs and claw-and-ball feet, the 
seats of crimson silk damask. There was a large 
mahogany scrutoire and bookcase with glass-doors ; 
a small mahogany dining-table ; a round mahogany 
tea-table ; and a mahoganv card-table. A large pier- 

66 



Houses and Furniture 



glass, a large chimney-glass, and a large gilt-framed 
picture brightened the walls, and the room glowed 
with the light of sparkling logs on the brass andirons, 
near which stood the customary shovel, tongs and 
bellows. Eleven other pictures contributed addi- 
tional ornaments, as well as a great array of cut glass 
and burnt china ware, then extremely fashionable. 
A valual)le treasure in this room was a casket in 
which the family jewelry was kept, consisting of a 




Child's rocking-chair and leather-covered cradle ; in the Museum ot the 
New York Colonial Dames. See page 78. 

gentleman's gold watch, a lady's gold watch and sev- 
eral diamond rings. There was also some handsome 
family silver. 

The dining-room was scarcelv less comfortable. 
The fireplace was furnished with brass andirons, and 
the light was softened by green window curtains. 
Here was a large mahogany oval table, a clock, ten 
matted chairs, a large sconce with gilt frame, two 
glass sconce candlesticks, a number of small pictures 



Social New York Under the Georges 

and all the table furniture, among which a lot of blue 
and white china was conspicuously displayed. 

Up-stairs were three rooms. The front bedroom 
was the guest-chamber, and, like the drawing-room, 
was furnished with the greatest care in fashionable 
Chippendale taste. The large mahogany bedstead 
was unusually handsome because it had claw-and-ball 
feet ; its tester and curtains were of red stamped 
camlet, and red was the colour of the room. There 
was a mahogany easy chair with claw-and-ball feet 
and a crimson silk damask cover and cushion ; a 
mahogany dressing-table with drawers ; a mahogany 
tea-table with claw-and-ball feet and upon it a " paint- 
ed table cover"; an iron bound chest and a small 
gilt leather trunk stood on the floor. Upon the 
walls hung two gilt-framed sconces, two large gilt- 
framed pictures, three small pictures, and two small 
black-framed pictures. The china in this room con- 
sisted of a larofe blue and white bowl and six burnt 
china coffee cups and saucers. 

The back bedroom contained a large bedstead and 
a small folding-bedstead for children. The rest of 
the furniture comprised a small black-framed looking- 
glass, two black framed pictures and a small table 
with leaves. This sombre hue was relieved by the 
presence of six red leather chairs and the bright fire 
upon the brass andirons. Mr. Lodge had two silver- 
hilted small swords and walking-cane. 

The third room, over the entry, was small ; and 
here was only an old walnut cupl)oard — an old-fash- 
ioned Kas — and a close-chair. The basement was de- 
voted to the cellar, kitchen, wine-cellar, and store- 

68 



Houses and Furniture 



room. Mr. Lodge kept four slaves, a man, two 
women, and a girl, wiio lived over the kitchen at the 
back of the house. Still farther away was the stable. 

Adjoining- the house was Mr. Lodge's office, fur- 
nished with a writing-desk, table and stand, three 
matted chairs and his library. Above this ofhee, he 
had a private room to which he might retire for rest. 

The Walton house, built in 1752, and which has 
already been mentioned, was richly appointed. Most 
of the woodwork, including the staircase, was of ma- 
hogany and the furniture was of this wood. The 
handsomest curtains were of silk damask, which was 
the material used for covering many of the chairs and 
sofas. There were a number of green Windsor chairs 
in the house. Some of the furniture was upholstered 
with the hair-seating that had then become fashionable. 
There were three large walnut and gilt-framed mirrors 
in the house. Mr. Walton had acquired an immense 
fortune in his commercial ventures and made himself 
exceedingly popular. On the return of the British 
army from their victories in Canada in 1759, he en- 
tertained the officers in magnificent style, and it is said 
that the wealth displayed here was brought forward 
at home by some of these travellers as a proof that 
the American colonists were perfectly able to pay 
taxes for the war. The silver that was in daily use 
in this luxurious home will be described elsewhere. 

Another handsome dwelling was that of de Pey- 
ster, in Queen Street, near Pearl. It gained histor- 
ical interest when Governor Clinton lived there and 
W^ashington used the house for headquarters. Abra- 
ham de Peyster, a descendant of Johannes de Peyster 

69 



Social New York Under the Georges 



(a native of Holland and a merchant of New Amster- 
dam) and mayor of New York in 1691-5, was pos- 
sessed of great wealth. 

The house that he built in 1695, and that remained 
standing until 1856, was situated in Pearl Street, and 
was a fine specimen of the rich home of the day. It 
was of three stories with a balcony over its generous 
door. The parlour, on the first floor, was furnished 
with a couch and fifteen mahogany and black walnut 
chairs and several tables : one of these a round ma- 
hogany card-tal)le ; another, a square mahogany card- 
table ; a third, an old mahogany table ; and there 
were also a Japanned tea-tal)le ; and two marble tables 
and stands. The fireplace was furnished with an iron 
hearth with brass handles, tongs, shovel, and brush ; 
and near it stood a fire-screen. A mahogany desk 
and bookcase with glass doors and a large pier-glass 
completed the furniture of this room. 

Upon the walls hung thirteen glazed pictures and 
three landscape paintings — one large and one small — 
and seven pictures painted on wood and canvas. 
Light was contributed by two glass candlesticks with 
branches. The windows were draped with curtains. 
Three cases of ivory-handled knives and forks, a case 
of plated ware, three china punch-bowls, a china bas- 
ket and twenty china plates, and an entire china tea- 
service, consisting of tea-pot, cream-jug and sugar- 
bowl, besides cups and saucers, would seem to indicate 
that refreshments were served so frequentlv in this 
room that it was necessary to keep the dishes there. 

The dining-room was directly behind the parlour. 
Here the most noticeable piece of furniture was the 

70 



Houses and Furniture 



large mahogany dining-table, but there were also a 
mahogany tea-board and a round mahogany table. 
Seven black walnut chairs with blue worsted bottoms 
furnished the seats ; the windows were hung with 
caHco curtains ; and a canvas cloth was spread upon 
the floor. Andirons, shovel, and tongs gave evidence 
of the cheerful open wood hre. The other furniture 




Chairs from the Museum of the New \'ork Culunial Dames. 
See page i 09. 

included a clock, a fire-screen, a pier-glass, two pairs 
of sconces with gilt frames, a pair of brass candle- 
sticks, a mahogany tea chest, and two portraits, — King 
George and Queen Caroline. 

In the hall were two sofas covered with leather, 
five leather chairs, a dining-table and three lanthorns. 
The floor was laid with canvas. At the head of the 

71 



Social New York Under the Georges 

stairs stood a tea-table, a lanthorn, and a painted 
wooden dog-. 

The principal bedroom was known as " the wain- 
scot room." The prevailing hue was green. The 
bed was hung with green worsted curtains, and there 
were two green stools. The other furniture comprised 
a dressing-table and mirror, a pier-glass, mahogany 
stand, six black walnut chairs, two arm-chairs, an easy 
chair, a cabinet, andirons, tongs and shovel. 

Next was the "west bedroom," and on the same 
floor the " tapestry room " hung with tapestry that 
had once been extremely fashionable but was now 
not much valued. The chairs here were of leather. 
On the same floor there was a front room used as a 
sitting-room. Here were two Dutch painted tea- 
tables, an old-fashioned pier-glass, fifteen cane seat 
chairs, pictures, china tea-cups, etc. 

Going up-stairs, there was a " Blue Bedroom." 
Of course, the curtains of the bed and windows were 
blue. The furniture consisted of a " chest-upon- 
chest," six cane seat chairs, a dressing-table, a home- 
spun rug, a pier-glass, eight glazed pictures, and five 
India pictures. 

Upon this floor were two other bedrooms : one, 
contained a bedstead with curtains, brass hearth-fur- 
niture, a looking-glass, four glass sconces, ten matted 
chairs, and some pieces of earthenware on the mantel- 
piece. In the other, in addition to the bedstead, were 
four matted chairs, a slate table, a square deal table, 
a small stand and five India pictures. 

Of course, there were a garret and cellar, a wine- 
cellar, and an office or counting-room. In an exten- 

72 



Houses and Furniture 



sion were placed the kitchen and the apartments of 
the negro slaves. Farther away was the stable where 
were kept the horses, the chaise and the dt)uble and 
single sleigh. 

A good idea of the luxurious furniture of New 
York in the middle of the Eighteenth Century may 
be gained by glancing at the will of Mrs. Alexander, 
widow of James Alexander, who died in i 760. 

She bequeathed ^5000 to her eldest son John, also 
" my late son David's picture which hangs in the 
great room above stairs:" to her son William, "my 
dwelling-house with the outhouses, ground, stables 
and appurtenances;" also " m\- largest and l)est car- 
pet as also his father's and my picture." To her 
daughter Mary Livingston, "all my wearing apparel 
whatsoever, as linen, woollen, silk, gold and jewels 
of all kinds, . . . also my chaise called the Boston 
Chaise and the horse I have and keep at pasture." 

To her daughter Elizabeth Stevens, the wife of 
John Stevens of New Jersey, /'loo "to purchase 
furniture for a bed." To her daughter Catherine 
Parker, " 16 crimson damask chairs, one dozen and 
four crimson damask window curtains, the looking- 
glass, the marble table that now are in the dining- 
room, the square tea-table with the china thereon in 
the blue and gold leather room, as also the one-half of 
all the china and glass in all the closets, the mahogany 
dining-table the next in size to the largest, the ma- 
hogany clothes chest, as also my wench called \'enus 
and her two children Clarinda and Bristol, also mv long 
silver salver, a silver tea-kettle and lamp, the chintz 
bed in the large back room with the feather bed, 

73 



Social New York Under the Georges 

bolster, pillows, bedstead and furniture, . . . my third 
best carpet and all my pictures not given to any 
other . . . also £ioo to buy furniture for a bed." 

To her youngest daughter Susannah, ^1500 ; also 
" the two larofe lookinsf-Sflasses and the two marble 
tables which are placed and stand under them, the 
eiofhteen chairs with o^reen bottoms and the o-reen 
window curtains ... in the great Tapestry Room above 
stairs, . . . also three sconces suiting in the above- 
mentioned glasses and the twelve chairs with green 
bottoms which are in the little front parlour below 
stairs, also the looking glass and pictures that hang in 
the old parlour below, the green russell bed and win- 
dow curtains, the green silk bed quilt, two blankets, 
one rug, the feather bed, two pillows, bolsters and 
bedstead belonging thereto. . . . also the chintz bed 
that stands in the little back room, with the bedstead, 
feather bed, two blankets, one rug, one quilt, two 
pillows and one bolster, the large Holland cupboard, 
the dressing-table and dressing-glass, twelve chairs 
with yellow bottoms, the five pair of window curtains, 
the square tea-table with white china upon it which 
are in the room hung with blue and gilt leather, my 
larofe mahoe^nv table and three small mahosfanv 
tables, my second best carpet, one set of blue and 
white china dishes and plates for a table, also a tureen, 
eighteen pair of sheets, 36 pillow cases, 24 table 
cloths, 36 napkins, 24 pewter dishes, 60 pewter plates, 
four of my best kettles, four of my best iron jiots, 
four saucepans, four pair of andirons, four pair of 
tongs and shovels, 24 ivory handled knives, 24 do. 
forks, also the other half part of all the china and 

74 



Houses and Furniture 



glass in all the closets of the house I live in also . . . 
my best silver tankard and two silver mugs, two pair 
of silver salt cellars, two sauce cu])s, 12 table S]:)oons, 
one silver bowl, two silver tea cannisters, one suirar 
box, one milk pot, 12 teaspoons and a tea-tongs, one 
silver tea-kettle and chafing-dish, two small salvers 
belonging to the tea table furniture and my silver 
salver next to the largest." Her best horse and chaise 




Mahogany dining-table, owned bv Mrs. W. Sherwood Popham. 
See page i i i . 

she gave to her daughters Catherine and Susannah 
equally. All other house linen was to be shared 
equally among her four daughters ; all other plate 
among six children. 

This was a verv charming home. One room was 
evidently furnished in crimson damask and contained 
sixteen richly upholstered chairs ; another room was 
hung with blue and gold leather; another, rich with 

75 



Social New York Under the Georges 

tapestry, contained eighteen chairs with green bot- 
toms matching the curtains ; and another was in yel- 
low, if we may judge from the twelve chairs with 
yellow bottoms and five pairs of window curtains. 
These chairs, in all probability, were of walnut, or 
mahooany, with the carved wooden backs. Mrs. 
Alexander had also some handsome beds, notably 
the one draped with green, the material being a kind 
of flowered worsted damask known as russell. She 
had looking-glasses and sconces in glittering frames, 
marble tables, and a vast amount of china and plate. 
The large Holland cupboard, which was, of course, a 
A'^^s, shows that some of her furniture was old. 

Mrs. Alexander was a striking instance of the fact 
that in New York the keeping of a shop in colonial 
days did not interfere with social position. She was 
a woman of much energy and enterprise, and for 
many years had actually imported and sold goods. 
She was a widow when she was married to James 
Alexander, who was a lawyer of wealth and distinc- 
tion. Their son was educated in England and while 
abroad endeavoured to claim the title of the Earl of 
Stirling. Not recognized, he returned to America 
where he was always addressed as the Earl of Stirling. 
Having noted the contents of Mrs. Alexander's 
home, it may be interesting to read the following 
advertisement that appeared in 1761 : 

"To be sold at prime cost the shop goods of the late Mrs. 
Alexander, consisting of Broadcloths, Ratinets, Shalloons, Dur- 
ants, Tammies, Worsted Hoses, Gold and Silver Lace, Silk for 
Women's Wear, Ribbons and China ware and a Variety of 
Other Goods at the House of the late Mrs. Alexander." 

76 




-a 



.a ii 



o 

U 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Furniture for the comfort of the children is fre- 
quently met with. We have seen that Mr. Lodge 
had a folding bed for his children. A child's rocking- 
chair and a leather-covered cradle appear on page 67. 
The latter bears the date i 734 in brass nails. 




"Andrew Gautier, Windsor chairs." (^1765.) 



78 



Ill 

CABINET-MAKERS AND VENDUE SALES 

TiiK people of New York had every opportunity 
to furnish their homes handsomely. Ships brought 
each week the newest articles in furniture and orna- 
ment from London. Any one who had the means 
and took pride in living in the best taste could 
easily keep up with European fashions. The cabinet- 
makers and upholsterers were a numerous race. New 
artisans were constantlv arriving. They had learned 
their trade from English cabinet-makers and were 
ready to make up "gentlemen's goods" at the short- 
est notice in accordance with the latest fashions. 

Some of these cabinet-makers were undoubtedly 
experts; for instance, Mr. John Brinner, whose ad- 
vertisement appears on page 97, was a master carver. 
He brought with him six artisans of ability. Any 
one who is familiar with Chippendale's Gentleman s 
and Cabinct-Makci-'s Direetory, cannot fail to recog- 
nize the style of furniture that Mr. Brinner was able 
to make. We find him mentioning nearly every 
article that appears in Chippendale's book of de- 
signs, even to cases and shelves for china, furniture in 
Gothic and Chinese taste and the heavilv dra}ied field 
bedsteads. 

We also find Mr. Joseph Cox making " ribband 
back," Gothic, and rail-back chairs, French elbow, 

79 



Social New York Under the Georges 

easy and corner chairs, canopy, festoon, and field- 
beds, burgairs, china-shelves and other articles that 
onlv a master-hand could produce. 

By noting the advertisements of almost any cabi- 
net-makers and upholsterers we can readil)^ understand 
the kind of articles they made. For example, in 
I 750, we read : 

"James Huthwaite and Stephen Callow, upholsterers from 
London living in the Bridge Street, near the Long Bridge 
makes all sorts of Beds, Settees, Chairs and Coaches after the 
newest Fashion ; likewise stuffs Riding chairs and hangs 
Rooms with Paper and other things." 

Stephen Callow " made Beds, Chairs, Settees, 
Suffoys, couches, and likewise hangs Rooms with 
stuff or Paper." In 1753, he advertises : 

" Stephen Callow, upholsterer from London (near Oswego 
Market), makes all sorts of beds, chairs, settees, sofas, etc., 
and hangs rooms with paper or stuffs in the neatest manner. 
He has a choice assortment of paper hangings and upholster- 
ers' goods at reasonable rates." 

Other cabinet-makers dating from 1754 to 1767 
included Robert Wallace, in Beaver Street ; Thomas 
Griggs, near the Gentlemen's Coffee House ; John 
Parsons, between the New and Fly Markets near his 
late master Joshua Dclaplain ; Gilbert Ash, in Wall 
Street ; and Charles Shipman, near the Old Slip. 
These artisans made chairs, easy -chairs, close-stool 
chairs, settees, couches, all sorts of cabinets, scru- 
toires, desks, bookcases, chests-of-drawers, and tables 
of all kinds, — square, round, oval, plain, " scallopt," or 
"quadrile." Mr. Brinner, of whom we have already 
spoken, who arrived in 1762, evidently did more elab- 

80 



Houses and Furniture 



orate work. It is quite interesting to note, howev^er, 
that there were numbers of workmen who did noth- 
ing but carve, and among these was Samuel Dwight, 
carver, who lived between the Ferry Stairs and Bur- 
ling Slip and did "all kinds of work for cabinet- 




ChippciKiaic (hairs (1750 and about 1740). Now in the Museum of 
the New York Colonial Dames. See page 83. 

makers," — that is to say, he carved the furniture that 
they made. 

In 1773, Willett and Pearsey, cabinet and chair- 
makers, were at the Sign of the Clothes Press, nearly 
opposite the Oswego Market, at the upper end of 
Maiden Lane, "where cabinet and chair work of 
every kind is punctually performed with the greatest 
neatness and care." They offered "three elegant 
desks and bookcases, chest-upon-chest of drawers, one 
7 81 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Lady's dressing-chest and bookcase, three desks and 
one pair of card-tables, two sets of chairs, three 
dining-tables, five breakfast tables, one clock-case 
furnished with a good plain eight day clock, sundry 
stands, etc." 

In 1775, Samuel Prince, cabinet-maker, at the 
Sign of the Chest-of-Dra\vers, in William Street, 
near the North Church in New York, made and sold 
all sorts of cabinet-work in the neatest manner and 
on the lowest terms. Orders for the West Indies 
and elsewhere were " compleated on the shortest no- 
tice." He had on hand for sale "a parcel of the 
most elegant furniture made of mahogany of ihe 
very best quality, such as chest-of-drawers, chest- 
ujx)n-chest, cloath-presses, desks, desks and bookcases 
of different sorts, chairs of many different and new 
jxitterns, beuro tables, dining-tables, card-tables, break- 
fast-tables, tea-tables and man}' other sorts of cabinet 
work very cheap." 

The two most fashionable upholsterers were 
George Richev and Joseph Cox. The former had a 
shop in 1759 opposite the Merchants' Coffee House, 
but in 1770 he was at The Sign of the Crown and 
Tossel opposite the Old Slip Pump. During these 
years he kept up with the latest London fashions and 
made beds, chairs and easv-chairs, couch-beds, settees, 
sofas, and French chairs. He festooned window- 
curtains " according to the latest style, as practised in 
London," and was always receiving from abroad paper- 
hangings "in the newest taste." In 1770, he made 
mattresses fit for sea or land and " lines and tossels tO' 
answer furniture of any colour, at the shortest notice." 

82 



Houses and Furniture 



Joseph Cox was also from London and had The 
Royal Bed for his sign. This hung- out in Dock 
Street antl afterwards in Wall Street. He made ex- 
aetly the same articles as his rival, and in 1771, jHit up 
"all sorts of Tapestry, W'lvet, Silk and paper-hangings 
in the neatest manner." He kept a fine assortment 
of "lines and tossels for beds and window curtains of 
different colours;" and. in 1773, offered "lines and 
a few very handsome balance tossels for hall Ian- 
thorns," as well as a "large assortment of bed laces, 
amongst which is S(_)me white cotton bed lace of a 
new manufactorv and white fringes for ditto." In 
this year he advertised that he " makes all sorts of 
canopy, festoon, field and tent beadsteads and furni- 
ture ; also every sort of drapery, window curtains, 
likewise sopha, settees, couches, burgairs, French 
elbow, easy and corner chairs ; back stools, mewses, 
ribband back, Gothic and rail back chairs ; ladies' and 
gentlemen's desk and book-cases, cabinets, chest-of- 
drawers, commode dressing and toilet-tables, writing, 
reading sideboard, card and night ditto ; clothes 
presses and chests, china shelves, ecoinures, fire 
screens, voiders, brackets for lustres and busts, witli 
every other article in the l)usiness." 

Two styles of chairs that were fashionable tiirough- 
out the period appear on page Si. These are designs 
that Chippendale was fond of making, and there is 
everv reason to suppose that the New York cabinet- 
makers produced them in large numbers. 

Apart from the efforts of the cabinet-makers and 
upholsterers, the merchants and importers to supplv 
the New Yorkers with fashionable furniture and other 

83 



Social New York Under the Georges 

luxuries and comforts, there was still another means 
bv which the homes of the period could be richly 
stocked with choice articles. Many opportunities 
were afforded by the public vendue, or auction. 
Households broke up then as suddenly as now ; 
death sometimes removed the head of the family, but 
more often the British officers and those in authority 
were transferred to other stations and preferred to 
sell their household effects rather than to carry them 
home or move them. 

Many English residents who came to America as 
an experiment wearied of their experiences, and be- 
fore returning home sold out the contents of the house 
that they had taken such pains to furnish. When one 
remembers the custom that English people have of 
taking such a vast number of belongings into the 
wilds, it will not require much imagination to believe 
that when they came to New York (a comparatively 
easv journey), they did not hesitate to transport a 
ship-load of articles. Of course the Governor sur- 
rounded himself with every luxury, and at the begin- 
ning of our period, upon the death of Gov. Mont- 
gomerie, we find all his goods offered for sale at pub- 
lic vendue at Fort George. It may be interesting to 
see what kind of things he considered necessary to 
his comfort and pleasure, and what handsome articles 
New Yorkers were able to secure as early as 1731. 
The list reads : 

"A fine new yellow Camblet Bed lined with silk and laced 
which came from London with Captain Downing with the Bed- 
ding. One fine Field Bedstead and Curtains. Some blew 
Cloth lately come from London for Liveries; and some white 

84 



Houses and Furniture 



Drap cloth with proper Trimming. Some broad Gold Lace. A 
ver)' fine Medicine Chest with great variety of valuable Medi- 
cines. A parcel of Sweet- 
meat and Jelly Glasses. 
A Case with Twelve Knives 
and Twelve Forks with sil- 
ver handles guilded. Some 
good Barbados Rum. A 
considerable Quantity of 
Cytorn Water. A Flack 
with fine Jessamine ()yl. 
A fine Jack with Chain and 
Pullies, etc. A large fixt 
Copper Boyling Pot. A 
large Iron Fire-place. Iron 
Bar and Doors for a Cop- 
per. A large lined Fire 
Skreen. And several other 
Things. All to be seen at 
the Fort. 

"And also at the same 
Time and Place there will 
be sold One Gold Watch 
of Mr. Tompkins make 
and one silver Watch. 
Two Demi-Peak Saddles, 
one with blew Cloth Laced 
with gold and the other 

Plain Furniture. One Pair of fine Pistols. A fine Fuzee 
mounted with Silver and one long Fowling-Piece." 




Mahogany table, owned by Mrs. 
Edward Parke Cusds Lewis. See 
page 1 1 2. 



Some time later we read: "At New York on 
Thursday, the ist of June, at three o'elock in the 
Afternoon will begin to be Sold at Public Auctic n, 
a Collection of valuable Books, being the Library of 
his Excellency John Montgomerie, Esq., late Gov- 
ernour of New York, etc., deceased. A Catalogue of 

85 



Social New York Under the Georges 

the Books may be seen at the Coffee House in New 
York with the Conditions of Sale." In August were 
offered "several fine Saddle Horses, Breeding Mares 
and Colts, Coaeh-Horses and Harness, and several 
other things belonging to the Estate of his late Ex- 
cellencv Governor Montgomerie ; " and on Monday 
the 2d of October "about Noon, at the Exchange 
Coffee House will be exposed to Sale at Publick 
\>ndue, a large fine Barge with Awning and Damask 
Curtains ; Two Sets of Oars, Sails, and everything 
that is necessary for her. She now lies in the Dock 
and did belong to the late Governour Montgomerie." 

The negroes, plate, and furniture of the late Hon. 
Rip Van Dam, Esq., offered for sale in 1749, show 
that the choice goods of another governor were scat- 
tered among New York houses, while in 1 754 at 
public vendue at the Port were sold " sundry goods 
and effects belonging to Sir Danvers Osborne, Bart.," 
— the ill-fated governor who committed suicide soon 
after his arrival. These included "beds, bedding, 
household furniture, kitchen furniture, pewter, turn- 
erv, china-ware, a coach and harness, linen, two gold 
watches, some old hock, etc., etc." 

The furniture, plate, coaches and horses belonging 
to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Loudoun, also sold at 
auction at Fort George in 1 758, gave the residents 
another opportunity of securing valuable possessions. 
Captain George Douglas, Captain Thomas Seymour, 
Sir Charles tlardy, Captain Plenderleath, Captain 
Benjamin Davies, and the Hon. Major Carey are 
among those who sold out their household goods 
when they were transferred to other stations, or were 

86 



Houses and Furniture 



about to return to England. In addition to his ma- 
In)ganv furniture, Captain Benjamin Davies offered 
for sale in 1775, "a iine ehamber organ and a spinet." 
Sometimes there were sales of objeets of art. For 
example, in 1771, the following pictures: 

"A large kitchen with dead game, Snyders ; Its companion, 
do., A storm, capital, ]>ackhousen ; A Calm, Wright ; A conver- 
sation, Hemskirk ; Its companion ; A Landskip, Flemish ; A 
View in Flanders, Iiriighel ; Its companion; A Fruit Piece with 
a Mackaw, Vander Moulen, together with three pairs of most 
elegant vases for ladies toilet or dressing-rooms, ornamented 
in the highest taste." 




Thomas Burling, cabinet-maker." (1774.) 



87 



IV 

WALLS, PICTURES AND LOOKING-GLASSES 

At the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, the 
walls of houses were usually panelled, painted or 
whitewashed. In the homes of the rich, tapestry and 
gilt leather hangings were found. When Kalm visited 
New" York in 1748, he noticed that the rooms were 
wainscotted ; that the woodwork was generally painted 
a bluish grey ; and that the people seemed to be 
slightly acquainted with hangings. Two years later, 
wall-paper was imported in such quantities that we 
may feel safe in assuming it was as generally em- 
ployed here as in England. In 1749, Isaac Ware 
noted that " Paper has in a great measure taken the 
place of sculpture," Furthermore, he says: "The 
decoration of the inside of rooms may be reduced to 
three kinds : first, those in which the wall itself is 
properly finished, for elegance, that is where the ma- 
terials of its last covering are of the finest kind, and 
is wrought into ornaments, plain or uncovered ; sec- 
ondly, where the walls are covered with wainscot ; 
and thirdly, where they are hung ; this last article 
comprehending paper, silk, tapestry and every other 
decoration of this kind." 

He might just as well have written this after an 
examination of interiors in New York. In the mid- 
dle of the century, these three forms of finishing 

88 



Houses and Furniture 



walls were found, but the latter was growing in pop- 
ularity. In 1749, Stcj)hcn Callow " hangs Rooms with 
Paper or Stuff in the newest Fashion ;" James lluth- 
waite also " hangs Rooms with Paper and other 
Things," in i 750 ; and, 
in 1756, John Hiekey 
"stamps or prints paj)er 
in the English manner 
and hangs it so as to 
harbour no worms." 

Among the varieties 
of paper that are im- 
ported, we find stained 
paper for hangings, i 750 ; 
flowered paper, 1751; 
stamped paper for living- 
rooms, 1754; stucco pa- 
per for ceilings, 1 760 ; 
gilt leather, 1760; and 
gilt paper hangings, i 765. 
There was also a paper 
with landscape views, and 
paper composed of pic- 
tures of the Seasons, or 
shepherdesses, or emble- 
matical figures, framed in the rococo style of Louis 
XV. Another style, towards the end of our period, 
was drawn from the Classic ornamentation that the 
Adam brothers had made fashionable in England. A 
specimen of the latter appears on this page. 

Generally speaking, walls were hung with })ictures 
painted on glass, mezzotints, and engravings. Occa- 

89 




Wall-paper trom an old house in 
Cazenovia ; in the Museum tor 
the Art of Decoration, Cooper 
Union. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

sionallv portraits were found, and in many of the 
houses of New York were oils that to-day would be 
priceless. In the inventories, quite often, a "land- 
skip," a sea-piece, a " small winter," a " break of 
dav," a "bunch of grapes," "a cobbler," "a plucked 
cock torn," an "Abraham and Hagar," a "sea 
strand," a "shij)," "ye city of Amsterdam," suggest 
good Dutch art, not specially valued in that day, but 
commanding fancv figures now. 

The fashionable pictures came from England. It 
may be worth while to examine the importations, 
remembering that Duvckinck, Rivington and Garret 
Noel and Company, were the chief dealers. The 
Success brought pictures on glass with gilt frames, in 
1749, in which year, G. Duyckinck had "a very good 
assortment of Glass Pictures, Paintings on Glass, 
Prospective History Pieces, Sea and Landskips, a 
large assortment of large Entry and Stair-case Pieces 
ready framed. Maps of the World and in four parts, 
London, all on Rollers readv for hanging. Prints of 
divers sorts. Prints ready coloured for japanning, also 
a very good assortment of Limner's and Japanese 
colours with gold leaf and Japanner's gold dust. 
Silver leaf and Silver dust." 

The Neptune brought in pictures burnt on glass 
in 1750; " metzotintoes burnt on glass " in 1750; "a 
large assortment of maps, metzotinto and copper 
plate prints," in 1757; mezzotints. Japanned, pros- 
pect and common prints, and "pictures of India 
birds and manv fancies," 1759. T\\q Jupifer brought 
India pictures in 1759; "pictures of the present King 
and Queen, Mr. Pitt, the Marquis of Granby ; and 

90 



Houses and Furniture 



the never-to-be forgotten Gen. Wolfe, who sold his 
life clear to the French on the Plains of Abraham at 
Ouebce the 13th of September," 1762. The Wcsi- 
niorclaud brought " i)ortraits of the Archbisho|) of 
Canterbmy, Dr. Seckes, Rev. Mr. Sterne, Lady 
Waldegrave and her child, Garrick in tragedy and 
corned V, metsotinto prints of Garrick and Mrs. Gib- 
ber in jaffer and Belvidera, six very line })rints of 
Kew Gardens," in 1764. 

John J. Roosevelt imported from England and 
sold at his store in Maiden Lane in 1772, "an elegant 
varietv of pictures, one print in jxnticular (with a 
very handsome frame of glass) of Regulus oj)posing 
the entreaties of the Roman Senate, im{)ortuning 
him not to return to Carthage. Price /,"i4. This 
piece, the death of Gen. Wolfe and several others 
were copied from the original paintings of the cele- 
brated Mr. West of Philadelphia." We also find 
advertisements that are occasionally illummating, such 
as one for 1759, cis follows: 

" Lately published in England and to be sold by Garret 
Noel and Company, near the Meal Market, the celebrated Mr. 
Strange's very elegant Prints, consisting of Le Retour du 
Marche, a Cupid, a Magdalena, a Cleopatra, a Headpiece from 
the Painting of Guido Rheni, a Virgin Martyr from ditto. Lib- 
erality and Modesty from ditto, Apollo Rewarding Merit and 
Punishing Arrogance, Ctesar putting away Pompey, and 
Charles Prince of Wales, James Duke of York, and Princess 
Mary, Children of Charles L''. These surprising Pieces are 
bound up in Boards to preserve them, but may be taken out 
and put in Frames. Likewise, the Heads of Illustrious Per- 
sons of great Britain, on 180 Copper Plates, engraved by Mr. 
Houbraken and Mr. \'irtue, with their Lives and Characters by 
Thomas Birch, D. I)., Secretary t(j the Royal Society. Done 

91 



Social New York Under the Georges 

upon Imperial Paper and Curiously Bound. N. B. Gentlemen 
of Taste that are willing to purchase either of these much 
esteemed curiosities are desired to apply in time, as there are 
but very few Copies to dispose of." 

Another, dating from i 760, gives a good idea of 
popular subjects. James Rivington of Hanover 
Square, had " just imported a very fine collection of 
Pictures of various sorts, consisting of the Heads of 
all the principal persons who daily distinguish them- 
selves by their Virtues at Home or \^ictories abroad ; 
of very elegant Mews, Landscapes, Maps and Charts, 
Horses, Birds, Hunting-Pieces, Prospects of Lon- 
don, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Peterborough, elegant 
Buildings in Poland, Prussia, the East Indies, Ma- 
drid, Lisbon, Bristol, Edinburgh, Rome, Palmyra and 
Athens ; a complete Sett of the celebrated Beauties 
of Hampton Court, the Harlot's Progress, Hemkirk's 
Humorous Pictures, Monamy's famous Sea Pieces, 
Pictures for Watches, Copies to teach to Write the 
Round Text, the large and Small Round Hands, 
Black Lines, Letter Files, etc." 

The feature of the room that struck Madame 
Knight most forcibly, when she visited New York in 
I 707, was the impressive fireplace with its deep hearth 
framed with tiles. This was generally about five feet 
square, and behind the fireplace was a large cast-iron 
and ornamented back. Sometimes they were plain, 
but more frequentlv were decorated with, perhaps, 
the arms of the owner, or figures, flowers, or conven- 
tional device. In 1 751, we read: "Stolen out of a 
house rebuilding on Bever Street a small Iron Chim- 
ney back with the figure of a Parrot in a Ring on it." 

92 







U 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Peter Curtenius had " some plain and figured chimney 
backs " in i 769. 

The mantel-piece was frequently carved, as in the 
accompanying" example owned by the New York His- 
torical Society. It came from the Beekman House. 

Tiles gav^e a verv gay appearance to the chimney- 
piece. They were almost always in strong colours 

and the pictures were 
scriptural, historical, 
or landscape views. 
They were in white, 
green, yellow, red, 
blue, or pur])le. Mar- 
ble chimney-pieces 
and marble hearths 
were also to be met 
with, and sometimes 
these were finished 
with a brass border. 
James Byers, brass 
founder, in South 
Street, said in 1 768, 
that he could make 
" brass mouldings to 
cover the edges of 
marble or tiled fire- 
places." Once in a while, some one liked to ornament 
his chimnev-piece, like his ceiling, with stucco-work, 
which Mr. Bernard Lintot was able to supply in 
I 760. 

From the above, it will be seen that the great 
logs l)urning and crackling in their frame-work of 

94 




Drawing-room mantel. From the Beek- 
man house, Turtle Bav. 



Houses and Furniture 



carving, gay tiles and brass andirons and fender con- 
tributed not a little to the charm of rooms. 

Although the wood lire was universal all through 
the period, coals also were used. " \'ery good sea-coal " 
was advertised by Nicholas Bayard as early as i 744, 
in which year "the newly invented Pennsylvania lire- 
places" were attracting some householders, and a little 
before that date Franklin had invented his famous 
stove; and Christopher Sauer, his (rcrman de\ice. Steel 
hearths and stove grates came in about 1751, and in 
1752 Ri}) \^an Dam had for sale "a large iron hearth 
plate with brass feet and handles." Cast-iron stoves, 
round and square, were also in use. 

"Dutch and English fashion stoves" and "brass 
mounted grates with shovel and tongs " ap])eared in 
1767; and "elegant grates, or Bath stoves, for burn- 
ing coals" in 1768. Now that coals were used, the 
poker became a necessary addition to the equipment 
of the hearth. "A copper furnace and grate" was 
advertised in i 75 i. 

It was not until the middle of the century that 
carpets became general. The word had long been 
used as a covering for tables, and even as late as i 771 
we find an advertisement of " Ijedside and table car- 
pets," showing that it was still associated with a piece 
of furniture. Painted canvas and haircloth were used 
for a long time. The latter was particularly admired 
for staircases and entries. It must have been the 
same as that used for upholstering, since Bernard 
Lintot imported from London in 1764 "haircloth 
for chair seats and staircases." Haircloth for stairs 
had been popular since 1750. From about 1757, 

95 



Social New York Under the Georges 



"rich, beautiful Turkey fashion carpets," as well as 
Persian, Scotch and \Vilton, were imported in great 
profusion, and in 1771, Axminster appeared. The 
carpet was kept down on the stairs by means of 
brass rods. 

In a period in wdiich Chippendale and his school 
flourished, it is not to be w^ondered at that the chim- 
ney-piece, the mirror, the cornice, the bracket, the 
sconce and the girandole should 
have been of the utmost 
importance. At the begin- 
ning of the century, the 
Dutch style of carving 
was in vogue ; and under 
the Georges, the carving, 
naturally enough, con- 
formed to the tastes that 
had been formed by Grin- 
ling Gibbons and his school. 
Hence it is safe to believe 
that New York had long sup- 
ported good carvers. During 
the Georgian age, they flocked 
here in great numbers ; and we 
find many cabinet-makers who 
were also carvers, like Chippen- Chippendale mirror (ma- 
dale. One of these was John hoganv with gilded bird), 
Brinner. He advertised him- 
self as a " Cabinet and chair- 
maker from London," establishing himself at the Sign 
of the Chair, opposite Flatten Barrack Hill in the 
Broad-Way, his announcement reading : 

96 ^ . 




owned hy Mrs. F. H. 
Bosworth. See page 98. 



Houses and Furniture 



" Every article in the Cabinet, Chair-Making, Carving and 
Gilding Business, is enacted on the most reasonable Terms, 
with the Utmost Neatness and Punctuality. He carves all 
sorts of Architectural, Gothic and Chinese Chimney Pieces, 
Glass and Picture Frames, Slab Frames, Girondels, Chandeliers, 
and all kinds of Mouldings and Frontispieces, etc., etc. Desk 
and Book Cases, Library Book Cases, Writing and Reading- 
Tables, Study Tables, China Shelves and Cases, Commode and 
Plain Chest of Drawers, Gothic and Chinese Chairs; all sorts 
of plain or ornamental Chairs, Sofa Beds, Sofa Settees, Couch 
and Easy Chairs, Frames, all kinds of Field Bedsteads. N. 15. 
He has brought over from London si.x Artificers, well skill'd in 
the above branches." 

In an age of carving and gilding, the mirror re- 
ceived its share of attention. No one who studies 
the newspapers carefully can fail to note how impor- 
tant it was to discard an old-fashioned frame, or even 
shape, for the newest style of looking-glass that Lon- 
don had adopted. Towards the end of 1 730, we read : 

" James Foddy, Citizen and Glass-seller of London, who 
arrived here the latter end of last June, and brought with him 
a parcel of very fine Looking-glasses of all Sorts, and likewise 
appeared several times in this Paper, to acquaint the Publick 
that he undertook to alter and amend Old Looking-glasses; 
but he not meeting with suitable Encouragement, is shortly 
destined for the West Lidies. All Persons therefore who are 
inclin'd to have their Glasses repair'd, or buy new, may apply 
to the said James Foddy at Mr. Verplanck's in New York." 

By 1735, there were some new styles. Mr. Duyck- 
inck informed the public that he had 

" Looking-glasses new silvered and the Frames plaine 
Japan'd or Flowered, also all sorts of Picktures made and sold, 
all manner of painting work done. Likewise Looking-glasses 
and all sorts of painting Coullers and Oyl sold at reasonable 
Rates by Girardus Duyckinck, at the Sign of the Two Cupids, 
near the Old Slip Market. 

8 97 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" N. B. Where you may have ready Money for old Look- 
ing-Glasses." 

Looking-glasses, of course, included the large 
glass that so frequently ornamented the chimney- 
piece, the tall pier-glass whose place was between the 
windows, and the concave and convex mirrors with 
sconces for candles that were hung upon the walls. 
Frequently the frames of these were richly carved 
and gilded, and from the candlesticks hung glittering 
drops of glass, known as girandoles. Mahogany and 
black walnut were also used for frames, and a ma- 
hogany or walnut frame, brightened with gilt edges 
and adorned with some carved and gilded ornament, 
was also popular. One of the latter appears on page 
96 ; and another on page 324. The former is orna- 
mented with a gilded bird, — one of Chippendale's 
favourite desis^ns. This belono-s to Mrs. F. H. Bos- 
worth. The second, now belonging to Mrs. Wilmot 
Townsend Cox, was originally owned by Rutger 
Bleecker. 

In 1769, one Minshall, carver and gilder, from 
London, lived in Dock Street, opposite Bolton and 
Sigell's Tavern, where he had " carved frames for 
glasses, picture frames, tables, chairs, girondoles, 
chimney-pieces, brackets, candlestands, clock and 
watch cases, bed and window cornicing. He makes 
Paper ornaments for Ceilings and Stair-cases in the 
present mode." In the same year Nicholas Bernard, 
carver, advertised : 

" A neat assortment of Looking-glasses in the most elegant 
and newest Fashions, with carved, and carved and gilt frames, 
do. pediments and plain mahogany and walnut, also Dressing- 

98 



Houses and Furniture 



glasses, Girondelles, Chimney-Pieces, Figures of Plaster of 
Paris, and Paper Machine for Ceilings ; the King's Coat-of- 
Arms neatly carved, fit for Church or public Building." 

In 1775, the above Minshall, who for some time 
had had a Looking-Glass Store, removed it from 
Smith Street to tianover Square (opposite Mr. Goe- 
let's Sign of the Golden Key), and told his custom- 
ers that he had " an elegant assortment of looking- 
glasses in oval and square ornamental frames." He 
also had some in mahoa^anv frames and " the greatest 
variety of girandoles ever imported to this city." 
He had " an elegant assortment of frames without 
glass " and " any Lady or Gentleman that have glass 
in old-fashioned frames may have them cut to ovals, 
or put in any pattern that pleases them best." The 
frames could be finished " white, or green and white, 
purple, or any other colour that suits the furniture of 
the room, or gilt in oil or burnished gold equal to 
the best imported." An Apprentice was wanted "to 
learn the above art of Carving and Gilding ; none 
need apply but those who have a lad of sober and 
promising genius and are willing to give a premium," 

The following partial list of importations may be 
of interest to illustrate the lars^e general demand for 
mirrors : Gilt and plain looking-glasses and sconces 
of sundry sizes, in 1745; "a parcel of very fine 
large and small looking-glasses," 1747; japanned 
dressing-glasses, i 748 ; new fashion sconces and look- 
ing-glasses, I 749 ; looking-glass sconces, i 750 ; gilt 
and plain looking-glasses of sundry sizes, 1751; a 
choice assortment of very handsome looking-glasses, 
sconces and pier glasses of all sizes, 1752; a neat 

L.ofC. 99 




Pr^ 



c p 



; 6 



u 



'2 ^ 
^ Q 



Houses and Furniture 



assortment of sconces gilt and carved in the newest 
fashions, 1753 ; ladies fine dressing gilt looking-glasses 
and small pocket ditto, 1755; "peer" and sconce 
looking-glasses, 1757; newest fashioned looking- 
glasses from London, 1757 ; a variety of sconces with 
branches in walnut frames with gilt edges, 1757; neat 
dressing-glasses for ladies with gilt frames, 1757; a 
raree-show of looking-glasses, 1758; a few handsome 
sconces, 1758; looking-glasses, pier and sconce, plain 
and gilt frames, 1758; camp looking-glasses, 1759; 
walnut framed looking-glasses, 1759; "^ good assort- 
ment of small black walnut frame and japanned look- 
ing-glasses, 1758; a large and neat assortment of 
dressing-sconces and looking-glasses, 1 759 ; a very 
fine assortment of looking-glasses and sconces, their 
frames in the most genteel and richest taste, i 760 ; a 
quantity of Indian and Guinea looking-glasses, 1761 ; 
French pocket looking-glasses, 1761; looking-glasses 
framed in the new^est taste ^8 to ^,'30 a piece, 1761 ; 
a new and large assortment of looking-glasses, sconces 
and dressing-glasses, 1761 ; looking-glasses from 2 to 
6 feet, 1764; "the largest and most curious collection 
of plain and ornamented looking-glasses and pictures 
ever imported to America," 1 764 ; convex and con- 
cave mirrors, 1764; two carved white-framed sconce 
glasses, 1 764 ; handsome pier glass and two sconces 
with gilt frame, i 768 ; large pier glass in an elegant 
carved frame, 1769; looking-glasses from 2 shillings 
to £\o, 1 771; painted frame looking-glasses, 1773; 
oval sconces with gilt frames, 1773; oval glasses, 
pier glasses and sconces in burnished gold, glass 
bordered, mahogany and black walnut frames with 

lOI 



Social New York Under the Georges 

gilt ornaments of all sizes, likewise elegant giran- 
doles, 1774. 

People prized these articles very highly, as will be 
seen from the following advertisement in 1775 : 

"Stolen in the night of the 5th inst. out of the house of 
Robert Murray, at Inklinbergh, a Looking-Glass, three feet 
and a half long and twenty inches broad, set in a mahogany 
frame with a narrow gilt edge. Whoever brings the said glass 
to the owner, shall have Forty Shillings as a reward: and if 
the thief be taken and convicted, a further sum of Eight 
Pounds by Robert Murray." 

A square or round lantern always hung in the 
hall or entry, and sometimes a second one was re- 
peated at the landing. There were also glass lamps 
and chamber lamps, and lamps for sick persons. 




The King's Arms. (1767.) 



102 



V 

BEDS, CHAIRS, TABLES AND CLOCKS 

The bed was, of course, the most important piece 
of furniture in the bedroom. Almost invariably, it 
was a tall and wide four-poster of mahogany, more 
or less richlv carved. But the framework, handsome 
as it might be, and even if crowned by a carved 
tester, was comparatively unimportant when the 
furnishings are remembered. A large feather bed, 
weighing many pounds and stuffed with the softest 
feathers, rested upon a simple arrangement of bed- 
cords, or a " sacking-bottom," — a kind of heavy sail- 
cloth from which the word " bed-bunt " was probably 
derived. " Bed-bunts" were imported and were usu- 
ally 6 X 4 ft. and 9X4 ft-^ which shows the average 
size of the bed. 

The sheeting usually came from Holland, and was 
known as " ozenbrigs ; " the blankets were " striped," 
"rose," or "swanskin ;" and the spreads, or "sprees," 
early in the century were " white cotton bed carpets," 
but they were supplanted later by " white flowered 
counterpains." Marseilles quilts came in about 1772. 
India chintz counterpanes were also used in 1768, and 
scarlet, blue, flowered, and black figured " drawboys " 
in I 771. A silk quilt, or a Turkey quilt, was usually 
folded neatly and laid across the foot of the bed. 
The bolster and pillows, stuffed with softest feathers, 

103 



Social New York Under the Georges 

were encased in white linen, and everything about 
the bed invited repose. 

The true glory of the bed, however, was its hang- 
ings. Not infrequently, they were very luxurious in 




Chair and double corner-chair ; in the Museum ot the New York 
Colonial Dames. See page 109. 

texture and rich in colour. A "yellow silk damask 
bed," a "yellow camlet laced," a "crimson harra- 
teen," a "green russell," a "crimson moreen," a 
" flowered russell," a " blue and green flowered rus- 
sell," or "a green silk and worsted damask," was 
generally to be met with in the richest homes. Some- 

104 



Houses and Furniture 



times the curtains were altogether of silk damask ; 
sometimes, of worsted damask lined with silk ; some- 
times a mixture of each ; and sometimes of i)urely 
woollen goods. 

Occasionally, these curtains were ornamented with 
"silk bed lace," or fringe, or gimp, or "snail trim- 
ming," a kind of braid arranged in symmetrical 
rolled-up patterns, that was exceedingly popular with 
the upholsterers of the day, who were called upon to 
arrange the festoons and rosettes, lines and tassels, 
according to the latest advices from London. The 
curtains at the windows always matched the bed-hang- 
ings, and gave the room its designation of " the 
yellow room," "the blue room," "the red room," 
or "the green room." In summer, these rich hang- 
ings were removed, and the beds were draped in 
white, or supplied with mosquito netting, or " catgut 
gauze." 

In some of the rooms, the beds were simpler, such 
as, for example, the one seen in the illustration on 
page 23, showing an excellent bedroom of the 
period, from the Museum of the New York Colonial 
Dames at Van Cortlandt. The simpler bedsteads 
were of maple or walnut, instead of mahogany, and 
perhaps, indeed, of jiine or white-wood, stained or 
painted. These were hung with coloured calico cur- 
tains, like the one referred to, bright-hued or flowered 
chintz, or figured dimity. Ships were constantly 
bringing over such varieties of attractive English and 
India chintzes, and calicoes of such multitudinous 
colours and patterns, with " lines and tossels to 
match," that we can readily believe the bedrooms 

105 



Social New York Under the Georges 

were anything but monotonous in colour and effect, 
even if the same arrangement of furniture was to be 
found in every home. 

About 1770, a new style of bed and window cur- 
tain was introduced from England, — " copper plate 
and pencilled furniture " in red and white, blue and 
white, purple and white, green and white, etc., etc., 
so called from the pictures that were printed upon it, 
very similar to those upon the "pencilled china" that 
came into vogue about the same time. About 1761, 
mattresses stuffed with hair were offered for sale, but 
these did not, by any means, supplant in favour the 
feather bed and " sacking-bottom." 

By the side, or at the foot of the bed, stood the 
bed-steps. At the other side, a small table with a 
candlestick was always to be found in a comfortable 
bedroom. In the early part of the century, a strip of 
carpet, called "a bedside carpet," to distinguish it 
from the carpet upon the bed (for the word carpet 
had not lost its first meaning), was placed beside the 
bed, but as the years advanced, rugs were more 
plentiful and a carpet frequently covered the entire 
floor. The bed was often covered with a spread, and 
the dressing-table with a " toilet " made by the ladies 
of the house. 

The bedstead generally stood opposite the open 
fireplace, where the logs burned brightly upon brass 
andirons, guarded by a fender and supplied with 
shovel, tongs and bellows. A mahogany case-of- 
drawers standing upon its high cabriole legs and gar- 
nished with brass escutcheons and handles, and a 
small case-of-drawers, also bright with brass mounts, 

106 



Houses and Furniture 



were conspicuous objects. Above the latter hung a 
dressing-glass. Perhaj^s there was also a large chest- 
upon-chest of drawers, or an old mahogany kas, or 
wardrobe, a " bureau table," a wash-stand, and almost 
always two or three small tables, upon one of which 
a set of tea-things stood ready for use. Sometimes 
were to be seen a " couch and squal) " and a " lolling- 
chair" for further comfort, and very often a " scru- 
tore," or large secretary. 

The room was profusely ornamented with china. 
China vases and curious images decorated the chim- 
ney-piece and appeared on the top of the chest-upon- 
chest, or the tall case-of-drawers, provided the latter 
was not finished with the favourite scroll or " swan- 
neck " sweeps. Even then, in the centre from which 
they sprang, a small china vase, or other ornament was 
placed. A screen and a number of chairs completed 
the furniture. The latter might consist of a set of 
mahogany, including two arm-chairs, the seats match- 
ing the bed and window curtains, or they might be of 
cheaper wood with plain splat backs and rush seats, 
ordinary walnut frame and leather-bottom chairs, or 
of the cabriole leg with ball-and-claw foot and em- 
bowed back, the seat being of Turkey-work, worsted 
damask, or hair. Again, the chairs might have cane, 
or matted seats. 

Next in importance to the bed in the up-stairs 
apartments were the high and low cases-of-drawers, 
popularly, but erroneously known to-day as the " high 
boy " and " low boy." These consisted of a series of 
drawers that stood on a frame composed of spindle- 
shaped legs connected by a straining-rail or stretcher, 

107 



Social New York Under the Georges 



as shown in the example from the Museum of the 
New York Colonial Dames on page 57, or standing 
on the springing cabriole leg ending in the plain hoof, 
or the more ornate claw-and-ball foot. The former 
kind that stood on 
a frame of six 
legs generally 
had a square 
top ; the latter 
variety frequent- 
ly terminated in 
a scroll top. In 
addition to these 
pieces of furni- 
ture, there was 
the chest-of- 
drawers and the 
chest-upon-chest, 
of which an ex- 
ample in French 
walnut is here rep- 
resented. This be- 
longed to Mr. and 
Mrs. Augustus Van 
Home (the latter a 
daughter of Frederick 




Chest-upon-chest, originally owned 
bv Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Van 
Home ; now by Mr. and Mrs. 
Matthew Clarkson. 



V^an Cortlandt and 
Frances Jay), married 

in 1765. It is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Mat- 
thew Clarkson of New York, having descended to 
them through the Jay family. The brass escutcheons 
and handles on these pieces of furniture were impor- 

108 



Houses and Furniture 



tant additions, and varied from simple drop-handles to 
patterns that were quite elaborate. 

In the early part of the eentury, the chairs were of 
leather (one variety of which is shown on page 54), 
cane, and matted. The latter was popular about 
1700, and was often of the kind represented on the 
same page. We also find in the early homes ell)o\v 
chairs and easy chairs covered with red plush, or silk, 
or damask. About 1725, and onward, the walnut or 
mahogany chair with the claw-and-ball foot, was con- 
stantly used. This chair invariably came in sets, in- 
cluding two chairs with arms. The covers of the 
seats were of red leather, Turkey-work, silk, silk or 
worsted damask, the favourite colours being red, 
green and yellow. Types of these chairs appear on 
page 71. 

In 1760, haircloth for chair-seating was imported. 
It continued long in fashion. Sometimes it was fig- 
ured, and sometimes coloured. In 1765, Joseph Cox 
advertised '' a variety of beautiful black horsehair for 
chair bottoms, such as are in the greatest vogue at 
home" (home being London); in 1771, "figured 
horsehair for chair bottoms;" and in 1772, "patterns 
of horsehair for chair bottoms." 

Figured calico, chintz and copper-plate materials 
were used for furniture coverings and draperies to- 
wards the end of our period, especially in bedrooms. 

With sets of chairs, the double chair, or settee, 
was often included. This was formed of two chair 
backs placed side by side and carved or perforated to 
match the single chairs. The "corner chair" that 
Joseph Cox made in 1773 was of the variety shown 

109 



Social New York Under the Georges 

on page 104. This one is ornamented with a double 
back. The stuffed chair was often in use. Some- 
times it was referred to as the " French " chair. The 
" burgair " chair, also in Cox's list, was an upholstered 
chair of special design. 

The stuffed sofa gained in popularity. It was 
frequently draped in the most elaborate style with 
festoons caught in waves and swags, and fastened at 
regular intervals by a rosette. Sometimes it had a 
canopy carved in the Gothic or Chinese taste, and 
sometimes it was made to fit into an alcove and be- 
come a kind of couch-bed with curtains that were 
drawn into their symmetrical position by means of 
cords and tassels that connected with puUies. Chip- 
pendale was especially fond of fringe, cords and tassels 
for his sofas and beds, and for his ornate pieces recom- 
mends gold cords and tassels. 

Before the middle of the century, the Windsor 
chair had become popular. An example is shown to 
the left of the bed, in the room on page 23. The 
Windsor chair was of various kinds and was painted in 
different colours. Many chair-makers devoted their 
energies solely to this kind of chair. The following 
advertisement of i 769 gives an idea of the industry : 

"A large and neat Assortment of Windsor Chairs made in 
the best and neatest manner, and well-painted, viz., High- 
back'd, low back'd, and Sack backed Chairs and Settees or 
double seated fit for Piazza or Gardens, Children's Dining and 
low chairs, etc. To be sold by Jonathan Hampton in Chapel 
Street, New York, opposite Captain Andrew Law's." 

The "scrutore," escritoire, or secretary, was found 
in both drawing-room and bedroom. It was often a 

1 10 



Houses and Furniture 



combination bookcase and desk, the upper portion 
being enclosed by doors with panes of gkiss. Two 
specimens appear on pages 291 and 10. The former 
is said to have come from Ilolhind, but it is similar 
in character to many that Chippendale included among 
his designs. This belonged originally to Ryck Suy- 
dam ( 1 675-1 741) supervisor of Flatbush, L. I. and is 
now owned by his descendant, Mrs. Henry Draper of 
New York. The second is also of mahogany and is 
of the " Gothic Style " of the day. This belonged to 
Thomas Barrow, and was brought by him to New 
York in 1764. It is now owned by a descendant. 
Another form of desk was a simple chest-of-drawers 
with a flap which, when let down, formed the table 
for writing. 

In every home was a number of tables ; in 
many cases, the rooms contained several devoted to 
different uses. The dining-table was of mahogany. 
The oak drawing-table had long been out of fashion, 
and the extension table with its additional leaves had 
not yet been introduced, so that when more room was 
desired, tables were added to the central one. These 
tables all had drop leaves supported upon a movable 
leg. A good specimen is illustrated on page 75. 
The straiofht lesf ends in a ball-and-claw foot. This 
now belongs to Mrs. W. Sherwood Popham of New 
York. Nearly every house had its card-tables which 
were usually of w^alnut or mahogany, like the specimen 
shown on page 326, or of an older design with cabri- 
ole leg and ball-and-claw foot. The tea-table was of 
the utmost importance : it was of mahogany, painted, 
or japanned, or of walnut. Almost invariably, it re- 

III 



Social New York Under the Georges 

volved and could be made to tip as well as turn, and 
sometimes, when not in use, stood in the room in the 
position of the one shown on page 85. Of the three 
varieties of tea-tables, the one on page 312 was the 
older in design, as the " snake-foot " proclaims. The 
one on page 114 is more delicate in form and not 
only has the ball-and-claw foot but the acanthus carved 
upon the tripod legs. The third on page 85, is a 
more elaborate specimen and its large top is cut out 
of a solid piece of wood. The first belongs to the 
Barrow family ; the second, to Mrs. W. W. Shippen 
of New York ; the third, was originally owned by 
Col. and Mrs. John Cox of Bloomsbury, Trenton, 
but now belongs to Mrs. Edward Parke Custis Lewis 
of Hoboken, N. J. 

A small mahogany stand, or table, was usually 
placed by the side of the bed, as shown on page 23. 
Previous to the advent of Heppelwhite, the sideboard 
in the dining-room was a long table with square ends. 
Chippendale, in his book of designs, does not give a 
single example of the sideboard as we know it to-day, 
nor is such a piece of furniture found among the 
plates of Darly, or Ince and Mayhew. The "side- 
board table " that Chippendale recommends often has 
its framework richlv carved in Gothic, or Chinese 
style. Therefore, when we are told that so many 
tables were in the dining-room, we are not wrong if 
we call one of them "a sideboard table." 

The tea-table was present in every room. The 
number of articles used in the service of tea was 
considerable. Mahogany tea-boards (little tables), 
tea-chests, cannisters, lamps, kettles and nests of ket- 

1 12 



Houses and lurniture 



ties, kettles with lamps, tea -tongs, sugar - cleavers, 
sugar-tongs, spoons, urns, tea-trays, etc., etc., of all 
varieties appear again and again. The tea-kettle stand 
was also important, and the tea-tray was of many kinds 
and sizes. It was frequently of mahogany with a 
carved rim in the Chinese or Gothic taste ; hut liardly 
less popular was the tray that was painted and ja- 
panned. We give two of these : the one on page 321 
dates from the beginning of our period ; the second, 
on page 100, from towards the end. Like the painted 
and japanned tea-table, it was always a favourite. 
The former is said to have been brought to America 
in 1686. It is now in the Museum of the Colonial 
Dames at \"an Cortlandt. The picture upon it is a 
landscape. The second, is a more beautiful examj)le 
and is decorated with a charming oil painting after 
Joseph Vernet. It is now in the Museum for the 
Art of Decoration at the Cooper Union, New York. 
Tea-trays and waiters " of the newest fashion with 
landscapes" were still coming in in 1781. 

Japanned-ware was popular throughout the Eight- 
eenth Century. It was not only used for tea-trays, 
tea -kitchens, tea-tables, cannisters, sugar-boxes, and 
knife-cases, but for dressing-tables, clock-cases, chairs 
and every other style of furniture. As early as i 734, 
we find "eight-day clocks with japan cases " offered 
for sale by John Bell, and, as late as 1771, Stephen 
Gueubel of Wall Street announced to the " nobility 
and gentry " that he had "just arrived in this cit}^ " 
and had for sale " a quantity of beautiful furniture 
elegantly painted and varnished in tht Japan taslc'' 
and had "some complete toilets." He also under- 
9 113 



Social New York Under the Georges 

took to " paint coaches and chairs in the same 
manner." 

In 1772, Jane Wilson in the Fly Market offered a 
"great variety of beautiful japanned goods with cream 




Walnut chair and mahogany tea-table, owned bv Mrs. W. W. Shippen. 

See page 112. 

coloured grounds and other colours of the newest 
taste." Her wares included tea-tables, tea-chests with 
cannisters, tea-trays, bread-baskets and inkstands ; and 
she also had " some white japanned clock-faces, wdiich 
have the appearance of enamelled watch-plates." Al- 

114 



Houses and Furniture 



though there were many watch and clock-makers in 
New York, the ships constantly brought clocks and 
clock-cases to New York. The tall clock with its 
brass dial, frecjuentlv embellished with the changes 
of the moon, and occasionally equip})ed with ma- 
chinery for telling the tides, was the favourite. 
Bracket and pedestal clocks were also in use ; and 
many clocks were furnished with musical chimes. 

Nearly every household owned a tall clock, and 
in many houses the enormous clothes-press known as 
the Kas was frequently found. This, of course, was 
of Dutch origin and corresponded to the more mod- 
ern wardrobe. Another piece of furniture that the 
English found when they arrived was the cabinet in 
which the citizens of New Amsterdam kept their 
choicest china and other curios. 




Thomas Ash, Windsor chair-maker." (1774.) 



115 



PART III 
TABLE FURNISHINGS 



PART III 
TABLE FURNISHINGS 



CHINA, USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL 

Occasionally, one hears it said that there was 
little or no china in New York before the Revolu- 
tion ; but whoever will pause to think for a moment 
will know that this could not be true. The Dutch, 
as is well known, were among the very first collectors 
of china in Europe. It is not likely that the Dutch 
ships constantly arriving in New Amsterdam should 
fail to import wares of this nature. Indeed, china 
and porcelain were to be found in Dutch homes on 
this side of the Atlantic, in great quantity, before the 
English satirists attacked the china-mania. 

The home of Cornelis Steenwyck, who died in 
1686, was profusely decorated with china. In one 
room alone — the Great Chamber — there were no less 
than " nineteen porcelain dishes," besides two flow- 
ered earthen pots. Margarita \"an A^arick was an- 
other person who possessed a vast amount of china. 
She had three East India cups and three East India 
dishes, three " cheenie pots," "one cheenie cup bound 
with silver," "two glassen cases with thirty-nine pieces 
of small chinaware," and eleven " Indian babyes." 

119 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Besides this, there were 126 pieces of chinaware, con- 
sisting of cups, saucers, tea-cups, dishes, basons, jugs, 
flower-pots, toys and images. 

Mr. Jacob De Lange, who died in 1685, had a 
magnificent collection that would be priceless to-day. 
It included 164 separate pieces. 

Francis Rombouts (1692), had one Holland cup- 
board furnished with porcelain and earthenware, worth 
^15 ; and another, valued at ^5-13-0. 

Cornelis Jacobs (1700), owned a china lacquered 
bowl and a parcel of chinaware and earthenware, 
twelve new plates and nine earthen dishes. Abraham 




Group ot ornamental earthenware, owned by Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. 
See page 127. 

DeLanoy (1702), had 120 dishes, cups and saucers; 
Colonel William Smith of St. Georges (1705), had 
chinaware worth ^5; Joseph Nunes (1705), had 
"one small Delph plate" , Joseph Bueno (1709), had 
an earthen woman and a dog ; seven china cups ; 
twelve cups and saucers ; and five images in glasses. 

120 



Table Furnishings 



Capt. Giles Shelly (1718) owned much china, in- 
cluding a punch -bowl, "six chancy lions," eleven 
images, three " chaney basons," a red tea-pot, a sugar- 
box, an image and much earthenware ; George Dun- 
can (1724) possessed much earthenware and china, 
among which were seven images and a box wnth 
images ; Governor Burnet's china and glass amounted 
to Xi30~^6~o ; and Governor Montgomerie had a set 
of china valued at /,75. 

The people of this period valued their china 
highly. They kept it in cabinets and cases with 
glass doors, on shelves, and in racks made especially 
for it, besides decorating with it mantel-pieces and the 
tops of cupboards, cases, presses and chests-of-drawers. 
Much of the china was purely ornamental, such as 
birds, animals, figures, and images. Specimens of the 
china images of the period are shown on page 361. 
These horses are white with trappings of the brightest 
colours. They are owned by Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. 

Much of the china of the day, having come from 
the Orient, was exceedingly handsome, and was dis- 
posed of in special bequests. For instance, in 1684, 
Judith Stuyvesant left to her son, Nicholas, all her 
china " except the three great pots." These she left 
"To my cousin, Nicholas Bayard" and " Mv black 
cabinet of ebben wood with the foot or frame belong- 
ing to it, together with the three great china pots 
before reserved." 

There is no reason whv these three great pots 
should not have been similar to those shown on 
page ']^, which have been for manv years in the 
Beekman familv. This covered jar and two beakers 

12 1 



Social New York Under the Georges 

are of the famous old tlizen ware, and were probably 
made about two hundred years ago. It may be said 
here that in the province of Hizen were two ports, 
one of which, Nasrasaki, was the seat of the Dutch 
trade after 1641, and the other, Imari, the port from 
which most of the china was exported. One pecu- 
liarity of Hizen ware is that it somewhat resembles 
Chinese art. From Imari were sent two kinds of 
china: one, decorated with red, blue and gold ; the 
other, merely with blue. The style of decoration 
consists of medallions representing landscapes or fig- 
ures framed in branches of chrysanthemum, peony, 
fir, or bamboo. The jars on page jy are of the red 
and blue variety. They were in the home of the 
Beekmans at " Rural Cove," New York and are still 
owned by the family. 

A specimen of the ordinary Dutch cabinet filled 
Avith china, brass and copper-ware of the period, 
showing exactly what might have been found in the 
simplest home of New Amsterdam, is, with its con- 
tents, shown on page 356. People of such wealth as 
Cornells Steenwyck, Jacob De Lange, and Margarita 
Van \"arick owned much handsomer cases and cabi- 
nets for the display of their curios ; but such a cabinet 
as the above was not beyond the reach of any one. 

From the arrival of the English down to the 
Revolution, china was imported in increasingly large 
quantities from year to year. Among the largest im- 
porters were James Gilliland in Wall Street and later 
in Canon's Dock ; John J. Roosevelt, Maiden Lane ; 
George Bell, Bayard Street ; and Henry Wilmot, 
Hanover Square. Every now and then, they adver- 

1 22 



Table Furnishings 



lised large assortments of china and earthenware of 
the " newest fashion," and very frequently they de- 
scribed their goods. 

It must be remembered that the various English 
potteries were in their full glory. The Elers were 
working near Burslem, producing a red ware similar 
to Japanese pottery, salt-glaze and black ware ; at 
Burslem, x\aron Wood, Thomas Whieldon and John 
Mitchell were turning out yellowish white and cream- 
coloured salt-glaze, tortoiscshcll, cauliflower and melon 
ware, and agate ware, and Wedgwood was improv- 
ing every variety in partnership with Whieldon and 
later with Bentley. Liverpool, W^orcester, Leeds, 
Yorkshire, Chelsea, Plymouth, Bow, Lowestoft, 
Swansea, and other noted English potteries were at 
the period of their greatest activity, so that when we 
read such a simple annt)uncement in 1757 as that 
James McEvers has for sale "china ware by the 
chest, newest fashion," or that Gregg and Cunning- 
ham at their store in Queen Street have " a few hogs- 
heads of earthenware, containing punch-bowls and 
plates, crates containing cups, saucers and tea-pots ; 
also a parcel of common earthenware" (1756), we 
can tell very well what kind of articles went into 
New York homes. The following advertisement of 
1757 is a little more detailed : 

" To be sold by Edward Nicoll on the New Dock crates of 
common yellow ware, both cups and dishes; crates of white 
stone cups and saucers; crates of blue and white ditto; crates 
of white ware; crates of blue and white ; crates of black ; crates 
of tortoise shell and crates of red, all well sorted ; crates of 
pocket bottles, boxes of glass, consisting of wine glass; salts, 
sugar dishes, cream pots and tumblers; tierces and hogsheads 

12:; 



Table Furnishing 



s 



of Delft ware, consisting of punch-bowls, dishes, tea-cups and 
saucers; with a large and good assortment of earthenware and 
glass; and a parcel of fine mosaic dishes and plates by retail." 

Nothing throughout our period was more popular 
than cream-coloured earthenware glazed with salt, 
upon which Wedgwood experimented until he pro- 
duced the famous cream between 1761 and 1765. It 
attracted the attention of Queen Charlotte and thence- 
forth became known as Queen's Ware. It constantly 
appears in the New York advertisements after 1 765. 

Cream-coloured ware from Leeds, similar to the 
Staffordshire Queen's W^are, was also popular. It oc- 
curred most frequently in the basket, or wicker, pattern 
and was exceedingly light in weight. A choice group 
of this kind of ware appears on page 124. It belongs 
to Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. Here we find basket and 
perforated plates, a fruit-dish with a cover imitating 
various fruits, and a sauce-boat in the shape of a 
melon resting on a leaf, with a stem gracefully twisted 
to form a handle. 

Lowestoft ware was made as early as 1752. Chi- 
nese patterns and floral patterns (particularly the 
pink rose), were the designs in most universal use. 
Very frequently, fine tea-sets and dessert services 
were decorated to order with coats-of-arms, crests, or 
cyphers, accompanied by a floral or scroll border. 
This ware was also imported into New York. A 
tea-set that was given to Gen. and Mrs. Hezekiah 
Barnes, in 1 780, on the occasion of their wedding, 
appears on page 126. It might, however, be of 
earlier date. This set is now in the Museum of 
the Colonial Dames at Van Cortlandt, New York. 

125 



Social New York Under the Georges 

A good idea of the china that was used in 1 762 
may be obtained by referring to the stock of Keeting 
and Morris, who had removed from Beekman's SHp 
to the New Dock and announced "a compleat assort- 



Lowestoft china in the Museum of the New York Colonial Dames. See 

page 125. 

ment of the most fashionable kinds of Glass and Stone- 
Ware." This included "table plates and dishes both 
of the oval and round shape, black tea-pots, mugs and 
bowls of all sizes, tortoise, table plates and dishes of 
the newest patterns, green and tortoise tea-pots, milk 
pots, bowls, cups and saucers, Venice flower vases 
and horns, glass quart, pint, and half pint decanters, 
wine glasses, enamelled stone tea-pots, mugs, bowls 
and tea-cups, and saucers of all sizes and of the 
newest patterns, with a great variety of plain white 
ware." 

There was no less interest in quaint figures of 
animals, birds, images and curious objects than there 
was in the days of the Dutch. Ornamental china was. 
made in great quantities, particularly at Chelsea, 
Plymouth and Bow. Busts also grew in popularitv. 

126 



Ta hie Fu rnishing^ 



These were generally of earthenware brightly painted. 
Shakespeare, Milton, George II., George III., Wolfe, 
Chatham, and all the })()pular heroes, poets and actors 
of the day could be had. Other ornaments for chim- 
ney-pieces, tops of bookcases, chests -of -drawers, 
shelves and cabinets, included brightly painted birds, 
cats, dogs, lanibs, shepherds and shepherdesses, myth- 
ological figures, figures of Britannia seated on a lion, 
Minerva with shield, owl, and books, Neptune with 
trident on a base of shells and rock-work, lovers, pas- 
toral figures, allegorical figures, such as the Seasons, 
etc., etc. A typical grou}) of such ware appears on 
page 1 20. This belongs to Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. 

A few citations of importations will show how 
popular was this form of decoration ; for example : 
"some beautiful ornamental chimney china" 1766; 
" white stone-ware, including complete tea-table toys 
for children, with a great collection of different kinds 
of birds, beasts, etc., in stoneware, very ornamental 
for mantle-pieces, chests-of-drawers, etc.," 1767 ; "one 
set of image china," 1 76S ; "the greatest variety of 
ornamental china, consisting of groups, setts of fig- 
ures, pairs and jars just opened," 1770; and "birds 
and baskets of flowers for the tops of bookcases," 

1775- 

Oriental ware never declines in popularity. Din- 
ner services, tea-pots, cups and saucers, vases, etc., 
come from Canton and Nankin as in modern days. 
A few dishes, with a salad-bowl and soup tureen that 
belonged to William Denning about 1765. are shown 
on page 93. They show the kind of Oriental china 
that was in common use in the best New York houses. 

127 



Social New York Under the Georges 



A tea-table set of Nankin china was mentioned among 
the private sales in 1773. 

The taste for Eastern art was not shared by every 
one, however, for in a long fable in 1754, we read 
the following description of a tea-pot that was evi- 
dently the fashion : 

" A tawdry Tea Pot a la mode 
Where Art her utmost skill bestow'd, 
Was much esteem'd for being old, 
And on its sides with Red and Gold 
Strange Beasts were drawn in taste Chinese, 
And frightful Fish and hump-backed Trees. 
High in an elegant beaufet 
This pompous Utensil was set. 
And near it on a Marble Slab 
Foisaken by some careless Drab 
A veteran Scrubbing Brush was plac'd 
And the rich Furniture disgrac'd." 

Some of the families that inherited old china always 
kept it jealously. A few examples still survive. They 
have conquered every change of fashion. On page 
129 is a pair of "Mandarin vases," originally owned 
by William de Peyster, who died in 1784. He also 
owned the richlv decorated Oriental bowl that ap- 
pears on the same plate. These three pieces were 
buried for safety, during the Revolution. Between 
the vases is a plate that belonged to Margaret Liv- 
ingston in 1758. 

In 1767, we note that Breese and Hoffman, of 
Wall Street, had imported " India china, enamelled 
and blue and white bowls, caudle cups, blue and 
white cups and saucers, with small sets of service 
china, and Nankin china mugs." Among the lists 
of importations from 1750 to 1775, are found Eng- 

128 



Table Furnishings 



lish Delft, blue and white earthenware, japanned, 
gilded, green, agate, tortoiseshell, Tunbridge, Porto- 
bello, cream-eoloured, brown edged sprig, enamelled 
burnt china, quilted china, cauliflower and melon, 
l)lack, i)encilled, Dresden, Staffordshire and flint 



Vases, bowl and plate originallv owned hv William de Peyster, and now 
by the family of the late James de Peyster. See page 128. 

ware. Pine-apple and " colly flower coffee pots," 
white tortoise mugs and jugs, black ware and agate 
and melloned ware were advertised in i 765-6 ; while 
white and enamelled tea-table sets, white and burnt 
china bowls, blue and white enamelled china, blue 
and white landscape china, enamelled white and gilt 
landscape, nankin, brown edged sprig and duck break- 
10 129 



Social New York Under the Georges 

fast cups and saucers, black and white ribbed and 
engraved china, burnt china, and white, quilted and 
plain china were imported in 1767; burnt china jars 
and beakers, fruit-baskets, sauce-boats and " pickel " 
leaves in 1772; "burnt china, quilted china, pencil'd 
china, blue and white Queen's ware, Delph. and stone 
enamelled black," in 1773 ; blue and white, blue and 
gold, purple and gold and enamelled and burnt, in 
1774; "elegant sets of Dresden tea table china and 
ornamental jars and figures decorated and enriched in 
the highest taste," in 1775 ; and "very handsome red 
china tea-pots, Wedgwood's," in 1778. 

In view of these importations, it may be interest- 
ing to define a few of the varieties mentioned. The 
tortoiseshell ware was covered with a mottled orlaze, 




Group of Wedgwood, owned by Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. See page 132. 

brown, purple or green. Frequently, wine cups and 
drinking-glasses were made of this. A specimen cup 
with the head of Bacchus appears on page 120. 

Agate was variegated ware, imitating agate or 
marble, and was made by mixing different clays to- 

130 



Table Furnishings 



gether. Cauliflower ware imitated that vegetable in 
form and colour, and was especially attractive to pot- 
ters of the day who prided themselves on their green 
glaze and cream-coloured body. Pickle-leaves were 
dishes in imitation of the leaf ; the pineapple was imi- 
tated, for jugs and tea-pots ; the lettuce was used fre- 
quently for bowls and jugs ; and the favourite melon 
ware included melons and other fruits. The Porto- 
bello ware was made by Astbury in i 727 after the ex- 
pedition of Admiral Vernon, who took Portobello. 

There was also a great demand for the decorated 
painted and enamelled china. The china was orna- 
mented with portraits of George II., Queen Char- 
lotte, William Pitt, George III. and Shakespeare, 
and pictures of the Four Seasons, Freemasons' Arms, 
Masonic Emblems, Milkmaid and other pastoral 
scenes after Watteau, Milkmaids and May Dance 
after Gainsborough, Garden Scenes, Tea Parties, 
Landscapes with Ruins and River Scenes, Chinese 
Landscapes and Figures, Fishing and Garden Parties, 
Haymakers, Architectural Ruins after Panini, and 
pictures after Angelica Kauffman, Cipriani, Cosway 
and Bartolozzi. Much of this came from Worces- 
ter, Liverpool and Battersea. 

In all probability, this ware was the " pencilled " 
china so frequently mentioned among the late im- 
portations. Quilted china was done somewhat after 
the style of the pineapple and cauliflower ware, and 
much of it was made at St. Cloud in France. 

The most famous of the manv famous Ensflish 
potters, however, was Josiah Wedgwood, who made 
every kind of ware that we have mentioned and 

m 



Social New York Under the Georges 

adapted it to every article, including snuff-boxes, can- 
dlesticks, inkstands and the handles of knives and 
forks. The first ware that brought fame to Wedg- 
wood was the "cream coloured," which, as we have 
seen, became the Queen's Ware. Then he made a 
kind of red ware after the style of the Elers ; and, 
in I 766, the black ware, which he called basaltes, or 
black Egyptian. In 1773, he made a fine white terra 
cotta of great beauty and delicacy fit for cameos, por- 
traits and bas-reliefs, and in 1776 the famous jasper 
ware that could be made of any tint, — such as light 
and dark blue, pale buff, salmon-pink or sage-green. 
An interesting group of Wedgwood specimens ap- 
pears on page 130, owned by Mrs. F. H, Bosworth, 
of New York. There are upon this illustration sev- 
eral pieces of black basalt, jasper ware of pale blue, 
lapis lazuli, sage-green and buff enriched with cameos 
and festoons, and a white vase. In the centre is a 
tea-pot of black basalt. 

Although the New York families were constantly 
buying china of the latest fashions, they took great 
care of the pieces that had long been in their homes, 
as is shown by the number of men who made a busi- 
ness of repairing. One of these, Jacob Da Costa in 
Batteau Street, advertised in 1 769, that he " mends 
broken china with rivets and cement, mends all sorts 
of marble or china furniture, such as is used for 
ornamenting chimney-pieces, chests-of-drawers, etc., 
mends the necks of decanters that have been broken, 
hoops glass and china mugs that have been cracked 
and mends ladies' fans." 



132 



II 

PLATE, TANKARDS, PUNCH BOWLS AND CANDLESTICKS 

Wrought silver was always highly prized. From 
the first settlement of this country, every prosperous 
householder possessed pieces of plate. In New York, 
before 1700, exam})les occur in numerous inventories 
of English, Dutch and French homes. Thomas Eaton 
in 1668, bequeathed to Mrs. Abigail NicoUs, "my 
silver boat, my silver meat fork, and a silver spoon." 
George Cook's silver, in 1679, was worth ^40. John 
Sharpe, in 1681, owned 730 oz. of silver plate valued 
at /219. 

At that date, wrought silver was worth six shil- 
lings and eightpence an ounce. It may be mentioned 
here that its value averaged about seven shillings an 
ounce for the next two hundred years. Col. Lewis 
Morris (1691), had 900 oz. of silver plate, which at 
6 sh. 9d. per oz. came to ^303-15.0. Five years 
later, 185 oz. belonging to Margarita \"an Varick was 
valued at 7 sh. 9d per oz. Besides this 185 oz., which 
was probably in the form of cups, beakers, salvers, 
etc., she had a lot of miscellaneous articles in silver. 

These comprised two pairs of scissors, two brushes 
lined with silver, a spice-box, an egg-dish, a thimble, 
a wroufjht East India box, a small knife and fork, 
three wrought East Indian cups, two wrought F.ast 
Indian dishes, two knives, five wrought East Indian 



Social New York Under the Georges 



boxes, a tumbler marked R. V., a fork with studded 
handle, a wrought East Indian trunk, a salt-cellar, a 
china cup bound with silver, and eighty-three play- 
things, or toys. All these items were separately 
specified as silver. Some of the individual prices of 
plate of this period may be of interest. In 1690, it is 
expressly stated that six large and three small spoons 
together with six forks, belonging to Madame Blanche 
Sauzeau, cost ^,'10. In 1686, a silver beaker belong- 
ing to Derick Clausen was appraised at ^3 ; and the 
295 oz. belonging to Sarah Jacobs were valued at 
seven shillings per ounce. 

Asser Levy, a butcher in 1683, was evidentlv fond 
of plate. His pieces comprise twenty-two silver 
spoons, one fork, three goblets, one 
tumbler, one tankard, one mustard 
pot, one cup with two ears, five 
small cups, one ditto, one gob- 
let, two salt-cellars, one cup, 
one spice -box, a cornelia 
tree cup with silver and 
two ditto dishes, weighing 
in all 10 lbs, and valued at 
^48. His total estate was 

William Cox (1689), 
owned a case of silver hafted 
knives, silver tankard, cup, 

plate, sugar-box and spoon, salt-cellar, two porringers, 
tumbler and twelve spoons. 

It is thus abundantly evident that, at the opening 
of our period, the chests, kasses and cupboards of the 

134 




Silver tankard, owned by 
Frederic |. de Pevster, 
Esq. See page 137. 



Table Furnishings 



New York traders were well supplied with plate. 
But before going further in our examination of the 
Eighteenth Century silver, it will be well to recaj)itu- 
late those articles most commonly found already. 
These are the dram cup, the caudle cup, the salt, the 
beaker, the salver, the tumbler, the goblet, the tank- 
ard, and the porringer. In addition to these, there 
were boxes for spices, pepper and sugar, besides 
knives, spoons, forks and candlesticks. It must be 
remembered, however, that even in 1 700 the fork 
was not vet universallv used. The voider was a dish 
or tray into which crumbs and fragments of food 
were swept from the table after a meal. The " voyder 
knife " used for this purpose is frequently mentioned 
in the inventories. The voider soon came into gen- 
eral use : families that could not afford one of silver, 
had one painted, or japanned, or made of mahogany. 

The " salt " still preserved its massive Mediceval 
character in many cases, though the low circular, or 
octagonal, form was rapidly driving it out. Twenty 
ounces was not an excessive weight for one of the 
high chased and carved "salts" used here in 1700. 

A great water-pot with its cover, belonging to 
James Laty, in 1692, was, perhaps, one of those 
fine ewers employed for }X)uring water over the hands 
after every course at meals in an age when forks were 
not in general use. They were accompanied by ba- 
sins, similarly ornamented. The description, however, 
would rather fit the " tankard " that came into general 
use during the Seventeenth Century. The word was 
originallv applied to a receptacle for water, — tub, 
bucket, or jug — and gradually restricted to mean a 

135 



Social New York Under the Georges 




silver or pewter mug with handle or cover. From 
the accession of Charles II. to that of George I. this 

article was usually 
plain in form and de- 
sign, with fiat hinged 
lids and heavy han- 
dles, the latter some- 
times terminatino: in 
a whistle. The later 
" Queen Anne " tank- 
ards, however, had a 
swelling drum and 
domed lid, some- 
times ending in a 
knob. Their orna- 
mentation principal- 
ly consisted of the 
arms and monograms 
of the owners. Some- 
times silver coins were embedded in the lids of these 
tankards. Thus, in i ']2,2) : 

"Stole at Flatbush on Long Island One Silver Tank- 
ard, a piece of Money in the Led of King Charles IL and the 
Led all ingraved, a Coat of Arms before (in it a Man on a 
Waggon with two Horses) marked in the handle L P A. One 
Silver Tankard plain with a piece of Money in the Led, 
mark'd on the Handle A P or A L. One Cup with two twisted 
Ears chas'd with Skutchens mark'd L P A. One Tumbler 
mark'd L P A. One Dutch Beker weighs about 28 Ounces 
Engrav'd all round mark'd L P A. All the above was made 
by Jacob Boele, Stamp'd L B. One large Cup with two cast 
Ears, with Heads upon them and a Coat of arms Engrav'd 
thereon. One Cup with two Ears, a small Hole in the bottom. 
Whoever can inform Peter Lefferts of Flatbush on Long Island, 

136 



Silver candlesticks (1762— '3), originallv 
owned by Samuel and Judith Ver Planck. 
See page 143. 



Table Furnishings 



or Abraham Lefferts in New York, so that it may be had again, 
shall have Fifteen Pounds Reward and no Questions asked." 

A very fine aullientic example of this style is 
owned by Frederic J. de Peyster, Esq. and ajipears 
on page 134. Another that belonged to William 
Beekman is represented on page i 79. A later form 
of tankard appears on page 156. The hall-mark 
shows that this was made in 1749-50. It belonged 
to James Alexander and is now owned by Mrs. Ed- 
ward Parke Custis Lewis of Hoboken, N. J. An- 
other early Eighteenth century tankard appears on 
page 153. A fifth is shown on page 371 ; it belonged 
to Maria Crookc who gave it to her daughter, Catha- 
rine Elmendorph in 1 768 when she was married to 
Rutgers Bleecker of Albany. The tankard is en- 
graved with the Crookc arms. 

A sixth tankard, shown on page 138, is marked 
on the handle ^ 3 , the initials standing for Richard 
and Sarah (Bogert) Ray whose pictures appear on 
pages 195 and 202. This piece of silver was be- 
queathed to their son Cornelius Ray (i 755-1827), 
whose initials with crest (Ray) are engraved on the 
front of the tankard. The large mug has the same 
initials, and the small mug contains the crest, but not 
the markings on the handle. The soup-ladle, which 
is an unusually fine specimen, is also marked with the 
Ray initials. These are now owned by a descendant, 
Mrs. Natalie E. Baylies of New York. 

The slop-bowl with cover, in the same illustration, 
belonged to Elizabeth b^lmendorjih who married Cor- 
nelius Ray and is now owned by their granddaughter, 
Mrs. Natalie E. Baylies. The large silver salver 

137 



Social New York Under the Georges 

hanging above these smaller articles has the date 
letter of i 784-5 and is engraved with the arms of the 
English family of Sands. It was given by Comfort 
Sands to his daughter, Cornelia, in 1797 when she 
was married to Nathaniel Prime. She gave it to 
Rufus Prime and it passed from Temple Prime to 
Mrs. Natalie E. Baylies. 




Silver belonging to the Sands and Ray families ; now owned by Mrs. 
Natalie E. Baylies. See page 137. 

The two silver mugs standing on the tea-table 
(page 312) are excellent specimens of the period. 
They were owned bv Thomas Barrow and brought 
by him to New York. They are dated H, the letter 
for the year 1763-4, and are ornamented with scroll- 
work, flowers and pavilions in the Chinese taste. 

Tumblers are often found. These received their 

1^.8 



Table Furnishings 



name from the fact that no matter how you laid 
them down, they were so balanced as always to 
assume an upright position, swaying from side to 
side till they came to rest on their own base. These 
round-bottomed acrobatic cups, or tumblers, were 
sometimes called bowls in the inventories, and were 
of different sizes ; — the larger for beer and the smaller 
for wine. 

Caudle-cups, which frequently occur, w^ere also 
known as posset-cups or posnets. At the present 
time they would probal)ly be designated loving-cups. 
They had two handles and a cover, and sometimes 
stood on a tray. They were wider at the base than 
at the top and were used for drinking posset, which 
was a concoction of milk curdled with wine, and 
other inofredients. Bowls, also with covers and 
handles, but wider in the mouth than the caudle-cuj^, 
were called porringers. Instead of being circular in 
form, they sometimes had eight or twelve sides. The 
Queen Anne fluted porringers were often used as 
beer cups. Earlier specimens were ornamented with 
acanthus and other leaves and floral devices in re- 
pousse work. As time went on, the porringer l)ecame 
taller in proportion to its diameter and the handles 
more slender and graceful. Another important ])iece 
of plate was the punch-bowl. This occurs in innu- 
merable inventories during the Seventeenth and Eight- 
eenth Centuries from Salem to Charleston. 

The handsome silver j)unch-b()wl on page 140 
now belonging to Frederic J. de Peyster, Esq., is of 
English make as its hall-marks show. It dates from 
the year 1 704, and is almost identical with one in 

139 







"^3 On 



O 



Table Furnishings 



possession of the Vintners Company, London, which 
is of the year i 702. The liuted bowl, the laro:e rinfrs 
depending from the hons' heads, and the gadrooned 
hase are characteristics of this period. 

This kind of punch-bowl was usually called a 
Monteith, from a scallo})ed or battlemented rim that 
was placed on the toj^ of the bowl for the purpose of 
carrying the glasses. The name was given to it on 
account of its association with a gentleman of fash- 
ion who was noted for wearing a scalloped coat. The 
glasses were arranged in the scalloped rim with their 
bases outward. The bowl was brought in empt}', for 
every gentleman took pride in mixing punch. The 
various ingredients and the ladle were brought in 
with the bowl. When the bowl was placed on the 
table, the glasses were lirst lifted out of the rim and 
then the rim was removed. Punch ladles were of 
silver, or horn tipped with silver. One, of silver with 
a twisted ebony handle, appears on page 388. Punch- 
strainers were also used. 

Ewers and basins became plentiful l)efore 1 700, 
the absence of forks, as has been said, rendering them 
very necessary at meals. The great number of nap- 
kins in every home of wealth is thus accounted for 
also. The salvers that accompanied the helmet- 
shaped ewers were usually quite plain. The other 
salvers, about i 700, were plain circular dishes with en- 
graved ornamentation. The engraving as a decora- 
tion had taken the place of the repoiissd work of the 
earlier stvles, some of which are very beautifully 
wrought. A magnificent specimen is shown on page 
394. The De Peyster arms are stamped in the centre. 

141 



Social New York Under the Georges 

The " Queen Anne " salvers have their edges both 
chased and shaped, and they stand on three and some- 
times four small feet. The plainer ones are often 
gadrooned around the edges. 

The succeeding style of salver had a beaded edge, 
and instead of being circular, or shaped, was a plain 
oval tray with a handle at each end. One of these 
appears on page 156 with one of older date above it. 
The lower one was given by Gen. Washington to 
Eleanor Custis. The hall-mark shows that it was 
made in England in 1797. The Lewis arms are en- 
graved upon it. It is interesting as showing how long 
this style lasted, — at least, till the end of the century. 
The small salver, above it of very handsome design, 
has the hall-mark 1743. It belongs to Miss Garnett 
of Hoboken, N. J. On the same plate are shown 
two coffee-pots, one of which belonged to James 
Alexander (see page 76), a tea-pot with hall-mark of 
1749-50 ; a tankard (1749-50) and a sugar-dredger. 

Candelabra, candlesticks and sconces of silver 
were found in fashionable homes very early in the 
history of New York. The big " standing candle- 
stick " often had two or three arms or branches. The 
candlesticks in the form of fluted columns were the 
favourite form in the reign of Charles II. They 
lasted for many years. The bases were generally 
square, but sometimes octagonal. At a certain height 
above the base, these candlesticks had a projection 
that served as a knob by which they could be conve- 
niently held or carried. This simple form remained 
in fashion through the reigns of William and Mary, 
and Anne, but the fluted columns changed to balus- 

142 



Table Furnishings 



ter stems with square bases havintr the corners some- 
times cut off, and sometimes set back and rounded. 

Durins: the reisfn of Georije I. the tiorid ornamen- 
tation and twisted work of the Regency and early 
Louis Ouinze style came into vogue, especially the 
designs of Meissonier. Good examples are the can- 
dlesticks on page 136 and the very beautiful tea-kettle 
and stand on page 36, both of which belonged to 
the Ver Planck family. The candlesticks are part of 
a set of six originally owned by Samuel and Judith 
Crommelin Ver Planck. The hall-mark shows that 
they were made in 1 762. These are now owned by 
Mr. William E. \qx Planck of New York. The 
tea-kettle on page 36 has the same hall-mark, and is 
now owned by Mrs. Louis Fitzgerald, of New^ York. 

At the beginning of the reign of George IIL, the 
fashionable pattern for the candlestick was the Co- 
rinthian column, and this was the first style that in- 
variably had a removable socket-pan. Fine examples 
are shown on page 150. These bear the hall-marks 
of 1766 and belonged to the Waltons (see pages 19 
and 69). Four candlesticks of the same period, owned 
by Frederic J. de Peyster, Esq., appear on page 270. 

Every home that had any pretensions to wealth or 
fashion was supplied with silver candlesticks for at 
least one room. Glass was also very fashionable for 
sconces. In 1729, Governor Burnet owned twelve 
silver candlesticks weighing 171-2^ oz., two branches 
for three lights and two large glass sconces with glass 
arms. (See page 63.) 

Like the china, the plate w^as often kept in cup- 
boards made for its display. Among the possessions 

H3 



Social New York Under the Georges 

of George Duncan (1724), who owned 258 oz. of 
silver, we find a plate case with glass doors valued at 
^3-5-0. These cupboards did not afford much pro- 
tection asfainst theft, and rendered the burs^lar's task 
easy. We find many advertisements of stolen plate, 
wnth rewards for its recoverv. In most cases it bears 
the arms and almost invariably the initials of the 
owner. Several contemporary engravers found plenty 
of employment in New York. In 1755, Henry Daw- 
kins, engraver, lives opposite the Merchants' Coffee 
House. In 1763, "Joseph Simons seal-cutter and en- 
ofraver from Berlin, cuts all sorts of coats-of-arms, cv- 
phers etc. in stone, steel, silver, or anv other metal, 
also engraves coats-of-arms, crests and cyphers on 
plate &c." 




" For Bristol, the hrigantine Phila, freight and passage, 
Cruger's wharf." (i773-) 



144 



Ill 

TEA-POTS, URNS AND SPOONS 

Besides the plate imported from France, England 
and Holland, a considerable quantity was manu- 
factured here. On the revocation of the Edict of 
Nantes, many of the best workers in the precious 
metals left France and settled in Holland, Germany 
and England. Not a few crossed the Atlantic. The 
names of the silversmiths who were freemen of New 
York from the close of the Seventeenth Century 
till the Revolution were as follows : Everardus Bo- 
gardus, Ahasuerus Kendrick, Cornells Kiersteade and 
Benjamin Wyncoope (1698) ; Richard Overin and 
Jacob \'anderspiegel (1701); Benjamin Kip ( i 702) 
Bartolo Schaats (1708) ; Cornells Cornelison {171 2) 
Coenraet Ten Eyck ( i 716) ; Peter Vergereau ( i 72 1) 
Samuel Broadhurst (1725); John Hastier (1726) 
Cornelius Wynkoop (1727); Stephen Bourdet ( i 730) 
John Brevoort (1742) ; Silvester Morris (1759) ; John 
Burt Lyng and John Heath (1761) ; Joshua Slydell 
and William Grigg (1765) ; Walter Thomas (1769) ; 
and John Rominie (1770). 

It will be noticed that some of the above names 
are unmistakably Huguenot, while others are English 
and Dutch. Besides these freemen, other silversmiths 
kept shops in New York and advertised in the papers. 
In 1767, Cary Dunn was in New Dutch Church 

145 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Street. Joseph Pinto of Bayard Street was a silver- 
smith who kept his wares prominently before the 
public. In 1759 he announced : 

" Very neat chased silver tea pots, sugar pots, mugs chased 
and plain, milk pots, coffee pots, pepper castors, salts with 
shovels and glasses to them, fluted and chased children's 
whistles, double and single jointed tea tongs, tea spoons, punch 
strainers and ladles." 

He also sold "crystal and paste shoe, knee, stock 
and girdle buckles" and in 1761 he offered : 

" Very fine silver chased turene, dish and spoon ; chased 
and plain stands, full finished ; chased candlesticks, coffee and 
tea pots, sugar dishes, slop bowls, and sauce boats, chased and 
plain pint and half pint mugs, salvers of different sizes, and 
milk pots, salts and pepper castors and narrow spoons, cases 
with silver-handled knives and forks, silver watches, silver and 
plated spurs, chased and plain whistles, gold-headed canes, 
locket buttons set in gold, shoe, knee and girdle buckles." 

In the same year, he had a few additional articles, 
including silver chased coffee-pots, tea-pots and sugar- 
dishes, punch-strainers and ladles, and a " great vari- 
ety of open-worked stone, knee and girdle buckles, 
gold and silver brooches set with garnets, plain gold 
do., crystal buttons set in gold and a variety of other 
things." Another silversmith who was anxious to 
serve the public was Benjamin Halsted. On one 
occasion at least, he does not seem to have given en- 
tire satisfaction, judging from the following announce- 
ment in I 764 : 

"A premonition to those gentlemen that may hereafter 
have an occasion to employ a silversmith to beware of that 
villain Benjamin Halsted; lest they be bit by him as I have 
been. Andrew Bowne." 

146 



Table Furnishings 



A few representative lists of plate actually owned 
by families about the middle of the century will show 
that the New York merchant's table was as well sup- 
plied as his l)rother's in England. Rip Van Dam, 
(see page 86) possessed a good deal of valuable silver 




Urn, coffee-pot, spoons, etui case and snuff-box owned bv the Lynson, 
Rutgers and Ludlow families. See page 152. 

among which may be mentioned three tankards rela- 
tively worth $50.00, $35.00 and $60.00 ; a chafing-dish, 
$35.00 ; two candlesticks, snuffers and stand, $80.00 ; 
three castors, $30.00 ; two salvers worth $40.00 and 
$18.00; mug, salt-cellar and pepper-box, $20.00; two 
dozen spoons, $18.00 ; a pot, $14.00 ; and tea-spoons 
and table spoons, $25.00. The de Peyster plate, in 
I 760, consisted of four tankards, two decanters, two 

147 



Social New York Under the Georges 

dishes, three plates, seven salvers, two large salvers, 
two small salvers, two cups and covers, two chafing- 
dishes, six porringers, four sauce-boats, two punch- 
bowls, three mugs, four sugar-dishes, a coffee-pot and 
tea-pot, seven salts and shovels, one saucepan, four 
pairs of snuffers and stand, a mustard-pot, a bread- 
basket, a dram-bottle, a tobacco-dish, nine castors, 
six candlesticks, one waiter, twenty-three forks, three 
soup-spoons, two punch-ladles, ten tablespoons, ten 
tea-spoons, two sugar-tongs — all weighing 1272 
ounces, — -valued at from $1,500 to $2,000. 

Some specimens of silver that were long in the 
de Peyster family appear on pages 140 and 394. Oth- 
ers, including an urn, coffee-pot, salvers, a tea-caddy, 
a mug, a strainer, ladles, candlesticks and grape-vine 
spoons appear on page 153. These are owned by the 
family of the late James de Peyster of New York. 

The silver in the Walton house (described on page 
69), might have indeed been described as " massy 
plate," amounting as it did to 340! ounces. It con- 
sisted of two pairs of silver candlesticks, 81^ ounces ; 
one silver snuffers stand, 1 1^ ; one large silver waiter, 
32; two small silver waiters, 15^; two pint mugs, 
2if ; two pint bowls, i2i ; two sauce-boats, 29 ; four 
salts and four shovels, i2i; twenty tea-spoons; one 
sugar-tongs, i ; one small chafing-dish, i ; one punch- 
ladle, i ; one wine-cock, 5 ; two table-spoons, 4^ ; 
one tankard, 3if ; one punch-strainer, i:^ ; one coffee- 
pot, 28 ; one large soup-spoon, 8 ; one large tankard, 
44 ; and two large cases of knives, forks, and spoons. 
Two of the above candlesticks appear on page 150. 

We have seen that during the Eighteenth Cen- 

148 



Table Furnishing 



f 



turv. it was not an exceptional case for a wealthy 
home to contain plate weighing looo oz. and some- 
times considerably more. It will be interesting to 
see of what a ty])ical collection of this kind, though 
only of about half the above amount, consisted. 

oz. dwts. 

I silver tea-kettle, lamp and stand . 107 14 

I waiter 82 10 

I saucepan 23 15 

I chafing-dish 23 14 

I set castors and stand 31 12 

I tankard 35 10 

I Hat waiter 35 9 

I salver 13 2 

1 small waiter 6 3 

2 small waiters 15 9 

I punch-strainer 3 2 

I caudle-cup 33 15 

I i)air salvers 15 4 

1 pair sauce-boats 27 9 

2 small sauce]ians 7 

1 punch ladle 3 

1 2 table spoons 23 15 

2 large soup-spoons 11 18 

1 2 table-spoons 24 15 

10 table-spoons 18 10 

12 custard-spoons 12 5 

2 marrow-spoons 3 14 

I pepper-box 2 9 

1 2 tea-spoons 6 11 

1 2 tea-spoons 2 18 

The date of the above inventory is 1751. In ad- 
dition to these articles, it enumerated: 12 silver- 
handled knives and forks ; 12 dessert ditto ; 23 knives 
and forks with ivory handles, and 12 dessert ditto. 

An early example of the tea-pot is globular. This 
form was frequently ornamented with a crest, or coat- 
of-arms. Specimens appear on pages 275 and 138. 

149 



Social New York Under the Georges 



The former was owned by the Rev. Samuel Johnson, 
first President of King's College ; and now belongs to 
his descendants, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Ver Planck. 
The second, belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ray, 
is now owned by their descend- 
ant, Mrs. Natalie E. Baylies, 
of New York. It is notice- 
able that many tea-pots 
and tea-kettles of the 
reigns of George II. and 
George III. are very sim- 
ple in design. In these 
reisrns, Louis Ouinze de- 
signs were also very 
popular. An ex- 
ample of such a 
tea-pot, bearing 
the hall-mark of 
1749-50, appears 
on page 156. An- 
other tea-pot ap- 
pears on page 273. 
The latter belonged 
to Dr. Matthias Bur- 
net Miller (1749- 
1792), and was given 
to his son Judge Mor- 
ris Smith Miller. This is now owned by his great- 
granddaughter, Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox, of New 
York. A handsome tea-set, said to date from the 
middle of the century, belongs to Frederic J. de 
Peyster, Esq., and appears on page 284. 

150 




Silver candlesticks owned by William 
Walton (1766). See pages 143 
and 148. 



Table Furnishings 



As a rule, the coffee-pot was slender and taller in 
form than the tea-pot. Coffee-pots appear on pages 
153 and 156. Two coffee-pots of the Louis Ouinze 
period are shown on the latter page. The one on the 
right with the hall-mark 1758-9, belonged to James 
Alexander, father of the Earl of Stirling (see page 
76). It has a beautiful pattern of flowers and scroll- 
work and a border of little bells reminiscent of Chi- 
nese ornamentation. The top is shaped like a pine- 
apple. This piece of silver was buried during the 
Revolution. It is now owned by Mr. Alexander's 
descendant, Mrs. Edward Parke Custis Lewis, of 
Hoboken, N. J. The other coffee-pot, in the same 
picture, bearing the hall-mark of i 762-3, is similar in 
its pfeneral desion and ornamentation. Another old 
coffee-pot appears on page 147, and is owned Iw Mrs.' 
W. W. Shippen of New" York. 

The cream-jug and sugar-bowl usually matched 
the tea-pot. Part of a set that originally belonged 
to Henry Bowers (i 747-1800), is shown on page 2)7^- 
These are now owned by his descendant, Mrs. Wil- 
mot Townsend Cox of New York. Their general 
shape, with lobes, as well as their square handles and 
ball feet show that these are early pieces. It may be 
remarked here that the ball foot upon silver vessels 
appeared very early in the Seventeenth Century. 
Upon the same illustration (page 371), is a gravy 
boat that belonged to Maria Crooke (i 721-1794), 
who was married to Pctrus Elmendorph of Kingston. 
It is owned now 1)\' their great-grand-daughter Mrs. 
Wilmot Townsend Cox. The salt-cellars with their 
original spoons were owned by John Rutger Bleecker 

151 



Social New York. Under the George} 



and arc now in the possession of Mrs. French Ensor 
Chadwick. The tankard was owned by Maria Crooke, 
and the candlestick is one of a pair owned by James 
Chatham Duane. 

Chocolate-pots were much used and sometimes 
stood on feet. One of quite late date bearing the 
hall-mark of 1784, and owned by Mrs. Douglas Rob- 
inson, of New York, appears on page 352. 

The urn is of later date than the tea-kettle. It 
was generally of a pointed or oval shape. Specimens 
appear on pages 153 and 147. The former belongs to 
the de Peyster family ; the second, to Catharine Lyn- 
son and is owned by her descendant, Mrs. \V. W. 
Shippen, of New York. In the same illustration is 
shown a coffee-pot that belonged to Gabriel Ludlow, 
and coffee-spoons decorated with the heads of jesters. 
There is also a snuff-box on this plate and an ^tui 
case once owned by Catharine Rutgers. 

A group of silver appears on page 273, together 
with several small articles. On the left is a sugar- 
bowl that belonged to a set owned by Maria Living- 
ston and James Duane who were married in 1759. 
It is now owned by their great-great-grand-daughter. 
Mrs. French Ensor Chadwick. On the left is a bowl 
owned by Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox. The small 
salt-cellars that belonged to the Hon. Samuel Jones 
of New York (1734-1819), are also owned by Mrs. 
Cox. Between them stands a small filigree bowl, or 
cup, lined with blue glass, and a spoon. These be- 
longed to Cornelia Harring Jones, wife of the Hon. 
Samuel Jones and are now owned by her great-great- 
ijrand-dausfhter, Mrs. French Ensor Chadwick. 

152 



Social New York Under the Georges 

A few examples of plated ware appear on pages 
321 and 368. The tea-caddy, snuff-box, dish, and 
open-work basket on page 368, are owned by Mrs. 
Alan Hartwell Strong of New Brunswick. On the 
same illustration are some very interesting card-count- 
ers, each stamped with the head of Queen Anne. 
The little cylindrical box in which these are kept also 
bears Oueen Anne's head. 

Silver spoons were to be found in this country 
from its earliest settlement. The forms of the old 
spoons were very numerous. The bowls were deep 
and shallow, egg-shaped, kite-shaped and circular. 
The stems were round, flat, fluted, spiral, square and 
worked in many patterns. Sometimes the handle 
ended in a baluster and square, or hexagonal, engraved 
button (known as the seal-headed spoon) ; sometimes 
in a head or figure. The most famous of those with 
figures were the Apostles' Spoons, which were always 
highly prized. They occur frequently in the inven- 
tories. 

The end of the handle of the Jacobean spoon was 
broadened, flattened and notched, terminating in three 
points slightly turned up, and the bowl was a regular 
oval in shape. This was called the hind's foot spoon 
and lasted till the end of the reign of Queen Anne. 

The new fashion then introduced shows a bowl of 
a more elongated ellipse ; the end of the handle 
rounded and turned up, and the middle of the stem 
gradually rising in a high ridge running down to the 
extremity of the handle. Although other styles were 
successively introduced, this pattern persisted almost 
till 1770. About 1750, the shape with which we are 

154 



Table Furnishings 



familiar to-day, came into fasliion. The bowl became 
more pointed, the deepest part being towards the 
stem, and the end of the handle was turned down 
instead of up, as heretofore, while the tongue at the 
back of the bowl, known as "the rat's tail," was short- 
ened into a drop. This is popularly termed " Old 
English " pattern. It lasted till the beginning of the 
Nineteenth Century, when it was supplanted by the 
pattern known as the " Fiddle Head." 

Another spoon that was very popular in Georgian 
days was used principally for liquor. The figure of a 
monkey was carried on the handle, and from this it 
took its name. The monkey-spoon was sometimes 
found in company with the mourning ring and gloves 
that were given to the bearers at a funeral. We are 
told that each of the eight bearers received one at the 
funeral of Philip Livingston, in 1 749. 

The marrow-spoon was also of importance. On 
page 164 several spoons of the period appear with 
other articles. The small spoons there shown were 
made by Isaac Hutton, a noted silversmith of Albany, 
and are now owned bv Mrs. F. H. Bosworth of New 
York. The ladle belonged to Helena Morris and 
John Rutherford (1782), and are now in the Van 
Cortlandt Museum. The little spoon in one of the 
salt-cellars was made by one Forbes, also an American 
silversmith. On the same plate there is a funeral 
spoon, now owned by Mrs. Howard Townsend. It 
was one of the spoons given to the pall-bearers at 
the funeral of Stephen Van Rensselaer in 1787. 

The family silver, especially such as Monteiths 
tankards, caudle-cups, etc., was sometimes highly 

155 



Social New York Under the Georges 

prized. We should be astonished that so little old 
plate has survived if we did not know that our fore- 
fathers as a rule had very little veneration for any- 
thing that commemorated the fashions of a former 
day. Gifts from royal personages, such as the pieces 
of plate given to Governor Burnet by the Electress 
Sophia for his services to the House of Hanover, or 
the plate presented to Lord Baltimore by Frederick, 




Silver owned by the Cox and Alexander families ; now by Mrs. Edward 
Parke Custis Lewis. See page 142. 

Prince of Wales, were naturally cherished, as were 
pieces that had sentimental and family associations, 
but, as a rule, when new fashions came in, much of 
the old went to the melting-pot. 

Before i 700, we find English settlers sending their 
plate to London to be refashioned according to new 
styles. Artistic perception had little to do with this 

156 



Table Furnishings 



custom. Sometimes the new fashions were inferior 
in beauty to those they supplanted. The mere fact 
that an article was old-fashioned lowered its value. 
In the inventories, old and new-fashioned plate are 
sometimes set down in separate items, the former 
being valued so much less per ounce. It was a very 
common custom for a man to send his old cups and 
salvers to the silversmith wiien he wanted new tea- 
pots. A bill rendered by Paul Revere is extant, 
in which a tea-pot, stand and some spoons came to 
^"15-10-0: against this ^,8-15-0 was credited for a 
salver containing 25 oz, of silver. The materials and 
workmanship were charged separately. 

When the stormy days of the Revolution arrived, 
people who had wealth in the form of plate had 
reason to congratulate themselves, for in comparison 
with other goods it was readily removable, and when 
necessity arose it could be easily hidden. Much was 
buried, and considerable ingenuity was exercised to 
keep it out of the clutches of rapacious soldiers. One 
such case is related in the following letter written 
by Mrs. Alexander Wallace to Gouverneur Morris, 
Dec. 28, I 776 : 

"Mrs. Hugh Wallace is pretty well in health, but very un- 
happy about her husband being kept so long from her, and 
what adds to her distress is the very heavy loss she has met 
with about ten days ago in losing all her plate. She sent it to 
Mr. Richard Yates last summer at Aquacknock, to be kept 
there as a place of safety; but upon his leaving that place he 
had the box w^hich contained the plate put on board a brig, 
commanded by Capt. Roche, bound to this place. About four 
miles below Hackinsack the brig was seized by a party of your 
army, and all the goods taken out. The plate cost upwards of 

157 



Social New York Under the Georges 

^1500, this currency. She thinks the gentlemen belonging to 
the Convention, when they know it belongs to her, will order 
it to be sent to her immediately, as it would be very hard in- 
deed to send her husband away to Connecticut and allow her 
property to be plundered. I must request the favour of you 
to get this affair settled as soon as possible. Enclosed is an 
inventory of the plate; it was all in one box." 

" I tea urn, i epergne, i very large bowl, 4 candlesticks, i 
large pudding dish, 2 large salvers, 3 small salvers, i large 
tankard, i coffee pot, i pitcher, i cruet stand, 4 long handled 
spoons, 4 scalloped spoons, 6 dozen table spoons, i dozen dessert 
spoons, I sugar dish, i funnel, i fish trowel, 6 salts, 2 mustard 
pots with spoons, 6 skewers, 2 milk pots, i tea chest with can- 
nisters, i sugar tongs, 4 labels for bottles, 4 tumblers, 4 rum- 
mers, 2 black jacks, i large soup ladle, i marrow spoon." 




** Smith Richards, Grocer and Confectioner, at the Sign of the Tea- 
Canister and Two Sugar Loaves." ( 1773.) 



158 



IV 

PEWTER, GLASSWARE, CUTLERY AND BRASS 

Although silver was universally employed and 
highly prized, as we have seen, pewter was a necessity 
even in the kitchens of the wealthy. Of course, 
among the lower classes it took the place of silver in 
all parts of the house. The number of pewterers in 
New York show how much in demand this ware was. 
Early in our period, people could buy pewter articles 
from James Leddel at the Sign of the Platter in 
Dock Street, but in 1 744 he removed to the lower 
end of Wall Street. Another pewterer was Robert 
Boyle, who in 1755 lived at the Sign of the Gilt Dish 
in Dock Street. William Bradford, in Hanover 
Square, made and sold "all kinds of pewter dishes, 
tankards, tea-pots, and coffee pots." 

In the homes of the rich and middle-class New 
Yorkers, the place of pewter was in the kitchen, where 
it was arranged on the dresser as shown in the illustra- 
tion on page 160. This interesting piece of furni- 
ture came from the Skinner house in Perth Amboy. 
It is now in the kitchen at the Museum of the Colo- 
nial Dames at Van Cortlandt. Upon it stand some 
good pieces of blue and white china. 

A great deal of jiewter was in use in the early part 
of the century. Some of the wealthv citizens who 
owned plate, china, earthenware, copper and brass pos- 

159 



Social New York Under the Georges 

sessed also many pounds of pewter. In 1705, Cap- 
tain William Smith's pewter was valued at no less 
than /20; and, as Cornelis Jacobs in 1700 had fifty- 




Dresser and three-back and four-back chairs ; in the Museum of the New 
York Colonial Dames, Van Cortlandt. See page i 59. 

six pounds of pewter worth £2, we can form some 
idea as to the quantity owned by Captain Smith. 
Gov^ernor Burnet's pewter was worth as much as 
^100-2-6 ! Pewter dishes, plates, spoons, tankards 
and basins, were constantly imported all through our 
period. 

160 



Table Furnishings 



The kitchen of a New York home frequentl}' con- 
tained a mixture of English and Dutch utensils. A 
portion of the kitchen in the \^an Cortlandt house 
appears on page 49. Although this is now a museum 
kitchen, a colonial cook would feel perfectly at home 
here, and would not be embarrassed in preparing a 
dinner with the utensils provided. Among the mis- 
cellaneous kitchen articles imported from time to 
time, we find " wafel irons," i 750 ; coffee mills, i 75 i ; 
sugar-cleavers, 1752 ; corkscrews, 1752 ; bread baskets, 
1 760 ; polished copper chafing-dishes, 1 760 ; copper 
tin kitchens with stands, 1763 ; baskets for plates and 
baskets for knives, 1765; and after 1760, japanned 
plate-warmers, "very necessary in this frigid climate." 
Then, too, we occasionally find some novelties. For 
example in i 779 : 

"Joseph Rose at No. 104 Water Street, a few doors east 
of Peck's Slip has just purchased a quantity of tinware amongst 
which are a large parcel of Despatches, very suitable for gen- 
tlemen of the army or navy and private families : they are 
worthy of the name of Despatches, as they will cook a beef- 
steak in about four minutes sufficiently to put on the table, 
having made the trial myself." 

Braziers were numerous, as w^as natural enough 
when one remembers the great use of brass hearth- 
furniture and the various utensils of copper and brass 
that were used in the kitchen, to say nothing of 
warming-pans, candlesticks, bird-cages, etc. Most of 
the artisans came from London, and notwithstandinof 
the fact that articles of brass, iron and copper were 
constantly being imported, a great deal of work was 
done in New York. For instance, in i 743 : 
" 161 



Social New York Under the Georges 

"John Halden, brasier frona London, near the Old Slip 
Market in New York, makes and sells all sorts of copper and 
brass kettles, tea kettles, coffee potts, pye pans, warming pans, 
and all other sorts of copper and brass ware; also sells all 
sorts of hard metal and pewter wares." 

Notwithstanding the increasing demand for grates 
and stoves as the century advanced, the open wood 
fire never lost its popularity. We find another brazier 
as late as 1770, Jacob Wilkins at the Sign of the 
Brass Andiron and Candlestick, in the Main Street, 
offering " a few brass fenders plain and open work of 
different patterns." 

An excellent specimen of the brass hearth furni- 
ture of the period appears on page 266. Nothing of 
its history is known except that it belonged to Betty 
Washington Lewis, the sister of Gen. Washington, 
and was in her home at Kcnniorc, Fredericksburg, \"a. 
The shovel and tongs are placed on a stand with a 
marble block grooved for their accommodation. They 
are owned by Mrs. Edward Parke Custis Lewis of 
Hoboken, N. J. 

Boxes of glass, containing wine-glasses, salt-cellars, 
sugar-dishes, cream-pots and tumblers were sold by 
Edward Nicoll, on the New Dock in 1757. An ad- 
vertisement of I 762 gives a good idea of the variety 
of articles of this nature that were to be seen on the 
tables of well-to-do citizens. This new importation 
consisted of " neat flowered wine and water-glasses, 
glass salvers, silver top cruet stands, a few neat and 
small enamelled shank wine glasses, flowered, scal- 
loped and plain decanters, jugs and mugs, salver and 
pyramids, jelly and silly bub glasses, flowered, plain 

162 



Table Furnishings 



and enamelled wine glasses, glasses for silver, salts 
and sweetmeat, poles with spires and glasses, smelling 
bottles, sconces, tulip and flower glasses of the new- 
est patterns, finger bowls and tumblers of all sorts." 
Drinking -glasses of the period are shown on page 

348. 

The larger one, a goblet, standing on a square 
base, and cut with a festoon for ornament, belonged 
to Brigadier - General William Livingston (1723- 
1790), Gov^ernor of New Jersey. This is owned by 
his descendant, Mrs. W. A. Walker of Nyack, New 
York. The other, a wine-glass, which also has a 
square base, is owned by Miss Anne \"an Cortlandt, 
of Croton-on-the-FIudson, New York. The two glass 
salt-cellars in the illustration on page 164, are in the 
Museum of the New York Colonial Dames at Yan 
Cortlandt. A group of glass articles of this date 
on page 232 are owned by Mrs. Edward Parke Cus- 
tis Lewis of " Castle Point," Hoboken, N. J., and 
consists of decanters, sweetmeat glasses, so frequently 
mentioned among the importations of the day, four 
wine-glasses and a tumbler. The five last articles 
belonged to Gen. Washington and descended to Col. 
Edward Parke Custis Lewis. The tumbler in the 
centre is delicately engraved with deer sporting in a 
forest glade. 

Glassware was used in New York very earh". It 
fre(|uently appears in the inventories, but is seldom 
described. Col. William Smith in r 709, had a case 
of Yenice glasses worth ^3 ; a large case and bot- 
tles, worth ^3, and 3 large cases and bottles, ^3. 
Joseph Bueno (1709), owned 3 glass cu])s. On Oct. 

163 



Social New York Under the Georges 



7, 1/54, the following notice appeared in one of the 
newspapers : 

"Thomas Lepper, storekeeper to the Glass House Com- 
pany, sells all sorts of bottles from i quart to 3 gallons and 
upwards, as also a variety of other glassware. . . . All gentle- 
men that wants bottles of any size with their names on them 
. . . may have them made with all expedition." 

This advertisement is interesting in connection 
with the illustration on page 348, upon which are 




Table furniture of the period. See pages 155 and 163. 



represented three bottles of the kind that Mr. Lepper 
was able to furnish. These, however, were made ten 
years later. The large bottle on the left bears the 
name and date " Sidney Breese, i 765." This is owned 

164 



Table Furnishings 



by the jVIuseum of the Colonial Dames at \^iii Cort- 
landt, New York. The madeira bottle, on the right, 
has the inscrii)tion " F. \ . C. 1 765 " enclosed in a 
heart raised on the glass, and standing for Frederic 
Van Cortlandt. 

The constant importations of decanters, castors 
Avith silver tops, "cruet" or " cruit " stands and 
"frames," tumblers and glasses for water, wine and 
beer, cream-jugs, syllabub and sweetmeat glasses, 
prove how abundantly glass was used on tables. A 
set of cruets in a plated stand now owned by Mrs. F. 
H. Bosworth appear on page 321. On the same page 
is a perforated cake-basket and an old soup-tureen. 

The table furniture not only consisted of rich 
silver, china, and glass, but we note many small arti- 
cles of luxury, such as nutcrackers in 1750; ivory 
nutmeg graters, 1753; tea-tongs and punch-strainers 
in 1759; finger-bowls in 1762; table-bells, 1767; and 
"steak-tongs and sugar-hatchets" in 1779. 'The fash- 
ionable New Yorkers thought it necessary to keep 
up with London styles in everything, even in such a 
small matter as cutlery. Cutlers' advertisements in 
the papers are many. They always make a point of 
assuring customers that they have, or will make, arti- 
cles according to the latest London fashion. We 
find one Thomas Brown removing in 1 743 from 
Hanover Square to Broad Street, corner of Stone 
Street, near the Long Bridge; and in 1752 "Edward 
Andrews, cutler, who served an apprenticeship to the 
famous Mr. Henry Jones of Sweethings Alley, by the 
Royal Exchange, London, arrived in this place last 
week in the Irciicr He offered to serve people at his 

165 








O O 



o 
o 

Oh 



13 




Table Furnishings 



shop near the Merchant's Coffee House, and "sells 
and makes all kinds of Cutlery work in the newest 
fashions now in vogue in London." Among; his 
choice goods, he calls attention to " the noted Con- 
stantinople Razor Cases and Strops." Specimens of 
the black-handled knives and forks ordinarily in use 
are shown on page 164. 

Knives, forks and spoons were kept in shagreen 
cases, generally green, but sometimes blue ; some of 
the handsomest of these were lined with red velvet 
from which the ornamental handles of silver, silver 
gilt, white or green ivory, or decorated china were 
shown off to advantage. The shagreen case came in 
very early in the century and continued in use until 
it was supplanted by the mahogany boxes of the 
same general shape. If we may judge from the 
following advertisement the latter began to appear 
about 1767 : 

"John Clark, shagreen case maker from London, next door 
to Mr. Seckell's, Cooper, in Ferry Street, near Peck's Slip Mar- 
ket, makes and sells all sorts of shagreen cases for knives and 
forks, both in shagreen and mahogany, and cases for Plate, 
Lady's Dressing-Boxes, Necklaces and Jewel Cases, Buckle 
cases and Razor Cases of all Sorts." 

These cases, of course, contained a series of com- 
partments, as shown in the example to the left on page 
166, which also shows one closed and an urn-shaped 
spoon-case. The knives were placed with their handles 
upward. Cutlery was constantly changing in fashion ; 
ivory-handled knives and forks, white split bone, buck 
and black handles were imported in i 750 ; china-han- 
dled knives and forks mounted in silver, in shagreen 

167 



Social New York Under the Georges 

cases, were sold by Reuben W. Thompson, in Smith's 
Fly, in 1752; "newest fashioned silver and ebony- 
handled table knives and forks in shagreen cases," in 
1 760 ; camwood-handled knives and three-pronged 
forks, in i 768 ; sets of knives, forks, and spoons com- 
plete in cases, in 1771 ; knife, fork, and spoon in a 
shagreen case for the pocket, in 1771 ; knife-trays in 
1772 ; knife-cases of fish-skin, in 1774. 




"James Youle, Cutler, at the Sign of the Golden Knife." (1774.) 



168 



PART IV 
COSTUMES OF MEN 



PART IV 
COSTUMES OF MEN 



THE MAX OF FASHION: HIS WIGS AND HATS 

There is a general impression that people on this 
side of the water scorned dress and fashion in Colonial 
times, and that the beau was a type entirely unknown. 
It is erroneous. The people who frequented the balls 
and assemblies, routs, tea-gardens and coffee-houses of 
New York closely followed London fashions. 

We shall presently see that men had every oppor- 
tunity to procure fashionable clothes and to have them 
cut in the latest European styles. Even more con- 
vincing it is to find contemporarv evidence of the 
existence of gallant and smart dress. Although the 
author of the following contribution to the Ah^w York 
Mercury, under date of Jan. 31, 1757, complains of 
the tyranny of fashion, his protests merely prove how 
universal was the fop and how unattractive the man 
who was "out of the mode." Incidentally, he gives 
us quite a correct idea of the fashions of the time 
and of what the woman of fashion demanded in the 
opposite sex. The writer did all he could to please 
her, even to the adoption of the "fierce Cave Nullo 
cock," which, of course, is the Kevenhuller hat de- 

171 



Social New York Under the Georges 



scribed on page 178, and resigned himself to the 
care of a fashionable hairdresser. He writes as 
follows : 

"I am a bachelor turned of thirty, in easy circumstances, 
and want nothing but a wife to make me as happy as my neigh- 
bours. 

" 1 have long admired a young lady who, I can with great 
propriety, call Miss Modish; though for her unreasonable con- 
duct to me she deserves to have her real name exposed in 
capitals. She has a mind capable of every improvement and 
graces of her sex ; and were it not for an excessive fondness 
for gaiety and the reigning amusements of the town, would be 
unexceptionably lovely. 

"To this fair one I have most obsequiously paid my ad- 
dresses for these last four years; and had I been a Beau, or 
she less a Belle, I should undoubtedly long since have suc- 
ceeded; for fashions, cards and assemblies were the only things 
in which we did not perfectly agree. But whenever these were 
the subject of conversation, we were as certainly ruffled and 
out of temper. On these occasions she would tell me, ' She 
was astonished I would dispute with her, when every genteel 
person was of her opinion. That one might be as well out of the 
ivorld as out of the mode. For her part, she could never think of 
managing a man who was so obstinately awkward and impolite, 
let his other accomplishments be ever so refined. I dressed like 
a clown, and hardly ever waited on her to a public diversion ; and 
indeed when I did, she was in pain for me, I behaved so queer. 
She had no notion at her age, of sacrificing all the dear pleas- 
ures of routs, hops and quadrille for a philosophical husband. 
No, if I expected to make myself agreeable to her I must learn 
to dress gallant and be smart.' Now, truth is, I can't dance, and 
have an unconquerable aversion to foppery. In order to form 
me to her taste. Miss Modish has always most obstinately in- 
sisted on my complying with every idle fashion that has been 
introduced since my acquaintance with her, under the severe 
penalty of never hoping for her love, if I did not implicitly obey. 
This, with infinite reluctance and mortification, I have been 

172 



Costumes of Men 



under the hard necessity of doing. I remember, when high 
brimmed hats were in the mode, she insisted on an elevation of 
my beaver of near lialf an incli with a fierce Cave Nullo cock. 
The taste changed, and she would hardly allow me enough to 
protect my phiz from the in- 
clemency of the weather. My 
coat, when coatees flourished, 
was reduced to the size of a 
dwarf's, and then again in- 
creased to the longitude of a 
surtout. The cuffs in the win- 
ter were made open, for the 
benefit of taking in the cool 
north weather; in the summer 
again they were close, to pre- 
vent the advantage of the re- 
freshing breeze. In the sum- 
mer, I was smothered with a 
double cravat : in the winter, 
relieved again with a single 
cambric neckcloth. It would 
be tedious to repeat the many 
surprising and ridiculous 
changes I underwent in the 
outward man; let it suffice to 
observe that my wigs, ruffles, 
shoes, and every little par- 
ticular, not excepting my 
breeches, have shared the 
same unaccountable metamor- 
phosis, all which grievous fop- 
pery, my excessive fondness 
for her made me suffer with Christian resignation ; but at last 
she has fairly exhausted my patience, and we are now come to 
an open rupture, the occasion of which was this : We unhappily 
fell into the old topic of my want of taste and breeding. ^You 
7i'/// d/7aavs,' says she, ' /v (7// olJ-fashioucd creature." (I had un- 
luckily called her ^[y dear). ' Lord, can't you take pattern 

^7Z 




Miniature of Lewis Morris (1641 — 
1746), owned by Mrs. Ostran- 
der. See page i 76. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

after Mr. Foppington ? How happy must a lady be in such an 
admirer! He's always easy and good humoured, and pays the 
finest compliments of any gentleman in the universe ! How 
elegantly he dresses ! And then he sings like an angel and 
dances to perfection ; and as for his hair, I never saw any- 
thing so exquisitely fine. Surely the hair is the most valuable 
part of a man ! ' 

" From this teasing introduction, she took occasion to insist 
on my wearing my hair; observing that I could not refuse it, 
since I saw how pleasing it would be to her. I used all the 
arguments I could to divert her from this unreasonable request ; 
but she peremptorily declared she would never speak to me 
again if I denied her so small a favour; it was an insult on the 
prerogative of her sex and a convincing proof that 1 neither 
loved her, nor merited her esteem. I remonstrated, in vain, 
that even if I was inclined to play the fool, and put my head, 
which as it happened I could not well spare, into the hands of 
Monsieur Piermont, I was well assured that all the skill and 
industry of that eminent artist would never change it from its 
native red, or form a single curl, for that ever since I was six 
years old, it had been condemned to be close shorn, as incapa- 
ble of affording a creditable covering to my pericranium. In a 
passion she desired never to see me more: she would not put 
up with such contradictions in any gentleman who pretended 
to be her admirer." 

The dressing-table of the gentleman of the period 
was equipped with every article of the toilet known 
to-day, and with a vast array of cosmetics, essences, 
oils, butters, pomatums and powders, with which the 
most fashionable man of the present day is unfamiliar. 
The latter, however, would not scorn " the complete 
set of shaving utensils in shagreen cases," " the sha- 
green two and four-hole razor cases completely filled," 
that could be bought from James Wilmot at the 
Golden Fleece, Hanover Square, nor the " complete 
shaving equipages, holding razors, scissors, hones, pen- 

174 



Costumes of Men 



knives, combs, oil-bottle, brush and soap box, with 
places for paper, pens and ink." These were made 
of japanned ware, straw, red, or blue Morocco, or 
shagreen. "Fish-skin razor cases" were also to be 
had, as well as "nail nippers," "neat Morocco tweese 
cases," and boxes for wigs, wig-ribbons, cravats, 
hats, etc. 

Dressing was as serious an occupation for men as 
for women. The man of fashion spent a great deal of 
time upon his toilet and then upon his self-adornment, 
and what was true of the beau, was, to a great extent, 
true of every man of affluence and position. The 
arrangement of the wig alone consumed a great 
amount of time ; for the gentlemen, unlike the ladies, 
had their hair dressed every day. Some of them put 
their curls up in papers at night and used curling- 
tongs the next day. The barber, of course, was re- 
quired, for what man could have arranged upon his 
own head any one of the varieties in fashion in 1753, 
such as the pigeon's wing, the comet, the cauliflower, 
the royal bird, the staircase, the ladder, the brush, 
the wild boar's back, the temple, the rhinoceros, 
the corded wolf's paw, Count Saxe's mode, the she- 
dragon, the rose, the crutch, the negligent, the chan- 
cellor, the cut-bob, the long bob, the half natural, the 
chain-buckle, the corded buckle, the detached buckle, 
the Jansenist bob, the drop wig, the snail back, the 
spinach seed, and the artichoke ? 

On Oct. 22, 1753, John Bury, at the Crown and 
Shears, in Beaver Street, announced that he had im- 
ported " a neat assortment of hairs of all sorts for 
perukes," and in i 754, we read : 

175 



Social New York Under the Georges 

"This is to inform all Gentlemen and Ladies who have 
honoured Mr. David Cox with their custom that the same 
business is now carried on at the same shop next door to the 
Kings Arms Tavern and opposite the Royal Exchange, by 
Timothy Powell, hair-curler and peruke-maker from London, 
who has just imported an assortment of English hairs; where 
all Gentlemen who are pleased to favour me with their orders, 
may have all sorts of perukes, viz. Tyes, bags, drest or cut 
bobs at the most reasonable rates and made in the genteelest 
and newest fashion. . . . 

" N. B. Ladies Tates and towers made in the genteelest 
and newest manner." 

Previous to this date, the wigs had been the full- 
bottomed, the tie, or Ramilies, the bag and the bob 
wigs, major and minor. The full-bottomed is that of 
the flowing curls familiar since the days of William 
and Mary and Queen Anne, and which is worn by 
Col. Lewis Morris on page i ^i. This was out of 
fashion by i 739. 

The Ramilies,"' invented by some enterprising bar- 
ber after the Battle of Ramilies (May 23, 1706), con- 
sisted of a bushy head, well powdered, arranged at 
the back in a braided pig-tail or queue, and tied at 
the top with a large bow of ribbon and at the bottom 
with a smaller one. The bag-wig is thought to have 
had its origin with the French servants who tied up 
their hair when they were doing their work. 

Gentlemen's bags were always of silk or satin. 
This style was much affected by doctors and lawyers. 

About 1774 it was said that a small man's shoul- 
ders were " perfectly covered with black satin." The 

* A good example of the Ramilies wig occurs in Hogarth's ]Modei-)i 
Midnii^ht Conversation and Taste in High Life in the Year 1742. 

176 



Costumes of Men 



bob wig was less ornate, being an imitation of the 
real head of hair, and it was worn by the common 
people ; the major bob had several rows of curls. 

During the reigns of George II. and George III., 
the bag and the Ramilies were, perhaps, the favourite 
wigs, but there was still another, — " the pigeon winged 
toupee," mentioned in 1753, which developed into 
the extraordinary Macaroni toupee, that was brushed 
erect about a foot above the forehead and plastered 
with pomatum. It was ornamented with large curls 
at either side and gathered at the back into a large 
club-shaped knot that rested on the back of the neck. 

We may be certain that all of these styles were 
worn in New York, by glancing at a few advertise- 
ments. In 1750, we find the following: 

" This is to acquaint the Publick, that there is lately arrived 
from London, the Wonder of the World, an honest Barber and 
Peruke-Maker, who might have worked for the King if his 
Majesty would have employ'd him: It was not for the Want 
of Money that he came here, for he had enough of that at 
Home; nor for the Want of Business, that he advertises him- 
self. But to accjuaint the Gentlemen and Ladies That such a 
Person is now in town living near Rosemary Lane, where 
Gentlemen and Ladies may be supplied with the Goods as fol- 
lows, viz., Tyes, Full Bottoms, ]\Lajors, Spencers, Fox Tails, 
Ramalies, Tucks, Cuts and Bob Perukes; also Ladies Tatema- 
tongues and Towers, after the ISLanner that is now worn at 
Court. By their humble and obedient Servant, John Still." 

Passing by many other eminent "artists" in the 
hair-dressing line, we may note the styles of 1761 : 

" To be sold at Duthie's London Peruke Warehouse all 

sorts of Perukes ready made of the newest Fashions, at the 

lowest prices that can be afforded by any one of the Business 

that does Justice to his Customers, and warranted to be of as 

13 177 



Social New York Under the Georges 

good Hairs and as good Work as any in America. Also Ladies' 
Teatts, Bandoas for the Hair, and Bags of the newest Fashion, 
Roapeats, Ramelleas, and hard and soft Pomatum, false Ques 
and many other Articles necessary in that Way." 

We cannot take leave of the wig without describ- 
ing- the cocked hat, which remained in fashion until 
1789. There were many varieties: indeed, a man 
was always known by the cock of his hat. The most 
fashionable was the one trimmed with gold lace and 
feathers ; but hardly less so was the hat worn with 
the Ramilies wig and known as the " Ramilies cock." 
A plainer one accorded with the bag-wig, while the 
" Kevenhuller," extremely large and aggressive and 
decorated with a cockade, was worn by officers and 
gentlemen swaggerers : 

" When Anna ruled and Kevenhuller fought, 
The hat its title from the hero caught." 

It long continued popular. The Nivernois was small, 
as was that affected by the Macaroni, and it had a 
small crown, to which small flaps were attached. In 
addition to these varieties, there was also a folding- 
theatre hat. Hats were round in 1770, and in 1772 
are described as " rising behind and falling before." 

New Yorkers were just as fastidious about their 
head-gear as Londoners. Castor and felt hats, fine 
castor hats and gold laced hats were imported in great 
numbers, and in 1762 there was a special invoice of 
"gentlemen's superfine laced and plain hats dressed 
and cock'd by the most fashionable hatter in Eng- 
land." In addition to these, we find men's velvet 
caps, single and double striped worsted caps, flowered 
and plain scarlet caps, men and boys' castor and felt 

178 



Costumes of Men 



hats, men's velvet morning caps, and velvet hunting 
caps constantly among the importations. 

After the gentleman's hair was dressed and thor- 
oughly sprinkled with grey or blue powder, heavily 
scented, there were other difficult tasks to perform. 




Silver tankard, paste knee-buckles, gold seals, walking-stick and coat 
buttons, belonging to William Beekman ; and a piece ot rose- 
coloured brocade. See pages 137, 183 and 193. 



One of these was the tving of his Barcelona or India 
muslin cravat, the adjusting of his stock and stock 
buckle, or the arrangement of his " solitaire," — a loose 
black ribbon fastened to the bag-wig and brought 
around the neck in front. After scenting his plain 
or flowered silk handkerchief with some strong per- 
fume, preferably musk, filling his snuff-box, fastening 
his sword to his side and taking his walking-stick or 
cane in his hand, he would tuck his beaver under his 
arm and sally forth to Ranelagh or \^auxhall Gar- 

179 



Social New York Under the Georges 

dens, to a public vendue, to pay a social call, to meet 
his friends at one of the coffee-houses, to look after 
his business affairs, or to make some purchases, if he 
had read some such tempting notice as : 

" Rivington and Brown, in Hanover Square, have this day 
imported from London in the ships Manchester and Edicard, 
Gentlemens laced and plain hats, dress'd and cock'd by the 
most fashionable hatter in England ; genteel boots, spur leath- 
ers, and doe-skin boot straps with handsome buckles. The 
most beautiful double gilt pinchbeck buckles for shoes and 
knees ; paper snuff-boxes finely painted and gilt ; best Stras- 
burg snuff and rappee; fine high dried snuff, commonly called 
Black Guard ; shaving equipage containing razors, scissars, 
penknives, combs, hones, oil bottle, brush and soap box, with 
places for paper, pens and ink ; elegant tooth-pick cases with 
best Lisbon tooth picks. ... A choice assortment of jewelry, 
paste buckles, earrings, solitairs, necklaces, stay-hooks, gold 
rings, seals, broaches, gold buttons, ettwees, etc." 




" Nesbitt Deane, Hats." (1774.) 



180 



II 



THE CLOTHES MEN WORE 



And now, if it be asked how our exquisite, who, 
until 1749, was known as a "Fribble," was dressed, 
we shall have to note that about i 727-1 730 he wore 
black velvet breeches, a Ramilies wig, a coat that 
fitted very smartly and was buttoned tightly at the 
waist, trimmed with lace, and open from the neck to 
the waist to show the lace ruffles beneath it. He had 
an array of buttons, his sleeve was finished with a 
deep cuff, and his wrists were adorned with ruffles. 
His waistcoat was long, and adorned with buttons 
and flaps. His shoes were gay with red heels, his 
silk stockings had gold clocks, his hat was a cocked 
beaver, and he wore a sword and carried a cane deco- 
rated with tassels. 

The clothes that Gov. Montgomerie wore con- 
formed to the above in every detail. Among them 
were cambric ruffled shirts, dimity vests, a scarlet 
coat and breeches trimmed with gold lace, a cloth 
suit with open silver lace, silk stockings with clocks, 
a gold-headed cane, and several wigs. 

A few years later, the coat had grown longer, 
reaching to the calf of the leg, fitting as tightly at 
the waist as ever, and just as profusely adorned with 
buttons. The cuff, now somewhat smaller at the 
wrist, reached to the elbow, and a broad collar turned 

181 



Social New York Under the Georges 

over and lay low upon the shoulders. The coat was 
still open, showing the ruffle or frill of the shirt. 

About 1 744, there was a slight change. The coat 
was no longer laced, although a plain band of lace was 
retained upon the still ample waistcoat. The skirts 
of the coat were lined with stiff buckram, or canvas, 
and stood out in rigid folds, and still fell below the 
knee. The stockings were drawn over the knee 
and just met the breeches, ornamented as before with 
glittering buckles. In 1753, a writer exclaimed : 

"What gentleman now rolls his stockings? or lets his 
breeches cover the cap of his knee ? Who suffers his coat-skirts 
to hang low enough to hide his thighs ? or, who dare appear 
now with high-topped gloves? Are not, even on the stage, ///'// 
bottoms discouraged ? Nay, a Brigadier is as unseemly ; the 
scratch usurps the throne of long-bobs, and a tje-7cng is banished 
for a pigeon-wifigcd toupee. But the hats — the hats, gentlemen, 
suffer most. Is not the Dcttingen cock forgotten ? the noble 
KevenhuUer discouraged ? Are not hats brought down to caps ? 
and ladies, who will exceed in extremes, disdain to wear caps 
at all." 

At the beginning of George III.'s reign, our beau 
decorated his coat and waistcoat with a profusion of 
lace, and wore a small black cravat. Otherwise, his 
costume suffered no change. The costume of 1 766 
is well hinted at in Anstey's New Bath Guide, when 
Simkin dresses himself in the latest fashion. He 
writes home : 

'* For I ride in a chair, with my hands in a muff, 
And have bought a silk coat and embroidered the cuff; 
But the weather was cold, and the coat it was thin, 
So the tailor advised me to line it with skin : 
But what with my Nivernois' hat can compare 
Bag-wig. and laced ruffles, and black solitaire ? 
182 



Costumes of Men 



And what can a man of true fashion denote, 
Like an ell of good riband tyed under the throat ? 
My buckles and box are in exquisite taste, 
The one is of paper, the other of paste." 

The next and last change was a violent one. In 
1770, the Macaroni appeared, whose style of head 
dress we have already described. He cut his coat 
much shorter and left it unfastened to show his waist- 
coat, also shortened till it reached the waist only. 
His two watches, with 
their dangling seals, hung 
from his pockets ; and a 
large white neckerchief 
was tied in a full bow 
beneath his chin. The 
turnover collar of his coat 
was small. The latter 
fitted snugly and was or- 
namented with lace or 
braid, embroidery, frogs 
and sometimes tassels. His 
tight breeches of striped 
or spotted silk reached to 
the knee and were tied 
with bunches of ribbons 
or strings. Small paste or 
diamond buckles adorned 

his shoes, and his stockings, of course, were of silk. 
Upon his enormous toupee, was perched a tiny hat, 
which he removed with liis cane when necessary. 
The latter was decorated with tassels. A sword also 
dangled at his side. 

183 




William Beekman ( i 725-1 795). 
From a portrait in possession 
of the Beekman family. See 
page 193. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

He was a very curious object and did not escape 
caricatures and lampoons of all kinds. The Oxford 
Magazine iox 1770 said: "A kind of animal, neither 
male nor female, lately started up amongst us. It is 
called a Macaroni. It talks without meaning, it smiles 
without pleasantry, it eats without appetite, it rides 
without exercise." The type originated about 1770, 
when a number of fashionable young Englishmen 
who had made the "Grand Tour," formed themselves, 
on their return, into a club, which they named in 
honour of Italy's favourite dish. From the Macaroni 
Club they took their name, and they carried extrava- 
gance in fashion, in dress, and in manner to the verge 
of absurdity. In i 772-3, they altered their costume 
slightly, combing their hair still higher above their 
foreheads in an oval shape, with large curls above 
each ear. They also wore knots of flowers upon their 
breasts. 

Horace Walpole noticed them in 1772, fathering 
them upon Lord Clive. " Lord Chatham," he wrote, 
" begot the East India Company, the East India Com- 
pany begot Lord Clive, and Lord Clive begot the 
Macaronis ; and they begot poverty ; and all the race 
are still living." Under date of Feb. 17, 1773, he 
said : " A winter without politics .... even our 
Macaronis entertain the town with nothing but new 
dresses and the size of their nosegays. They have 
lost all their money and exhausted their credit and 
can no longer game for twenty thousand pounds a 
night." 

For a few years, everything was ^7 la Macaroni, 
and the term was as familiar in New York as in Lon- 

184 



Costumes of Men 



don. In September, 1771, we even find "The Mac- 
aroni Purse for /,"ioo" being run for l)y Mr. De 
Lancey's Lath and Mr. Waters's Liberty. The 
word was also adopted here as a nam dc phtiiic. 
The name is particularly interesting to Americans 
on account of the song beginning : 

" Nankee Doodle came to town 
Upon his little pony, 
Stuck a feather in his hat 
And called it Macaroni." 

The story that this popular song is of Cromwellian 
origin is scorned by the best authorities on old Eng- 
lish ballads, who hold that the word Macaroni estab- 
lishes the date of the lines when the derisive words 
had peculiar significance, for the Macaroni was then a 
familiar figure. 

Gentlemen in New York had every opportunity 
to keep up with changes in fashions. The tailors 
were a numerous body. In 1750, "Simon Smith, 
Taylor, from London, living at his shop at Mr. Jo- 
seph Delaplain's, joiner, in Smith's Fly, near the Fly 
Market, makes all sorts of Mens and Boy's Cloaths, 
lac'd or plain, likewise Ladies Habits and Riding 
Josephs in the newest Fashion." 

In 1 75 1, Joseph Reed, Taylor, from London, re- 
moved from Depuyster's Street to the Sign of the 
Blue Ball in Wall Street, and in the same year 
" William Anderson, Taylor, makes all sorts of laced 
or plain Cloaths in the newest Fashion as in London." 
In I 771, Ennis Graham is selling clouded silk waist- 
coat patterns richly embroidered and spangled, gold 
spangled frogs for clothes and " macaroni velvet." 

185 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Fashionable tailors in large numbers advertised clothes 
of costly and beautiful materials in large quantities, 
but space will not allow further quotations. In 1775, 
William Thorne gives a price list of the most sump- 
tuous dress of the day. From this we learn that a 
plain suit superfine cloth cost ^8-10-0 ; a half trimmed 
ditto, ;^9-o-o ; full drest ditto, ^lo-o-o; coat and 
waistcoat, superfine cloth, ^6-15-0 ; a suit best velvet, 
any colour, lined with satin, ^38-0-0 ; suit figured 
Manchester velvet, ^15-10-0; suit rateen trimmed 
with feather velvet and gold buttons, ^21-0-0; pair 
silk velveret breeches, ^2-0-0 ; single coat, superfine 
cloth, ^5-0-0 ; plain suit second best cloth, ^7-0-0 ; 
coat and waistcoat, ditto, ^5-5-0 ; surtout coat, best 
Bath beaver, ^2-15-0; plain cloth suit livery, ^5- 
16-0; ditto, with shag breeches, ^7-0-0; thickset 
frock and waistcoat, ;^3-i6-o ; and livery surtout coat, 
i^3-i6-o. 




"To be Sold or Let." (1767.) 



186 



Ill 

COATS, BUTTONS, SHOES AND GLOVES 

Having spoken of fashions and of the tailors who 
made every effort to secure them promptly, a few 
specific examples of wiiat some individuals actually 
owned will prove of interest. We can hardly wonder 
that the owner of the coat described below as lost in 
I 746 was anxious to recover it : 

" Last night was taken out of a house in this city, supposed 
by a Mistake, a blue Broadcloth coat, with light blue silk frogs 
on it, with a double cape and silver Hooks and Eyes, the Bind- 
ing on the right side is much wore." Ten shillings is offered 
and no questions asked. 

In 1 760 and i 763, we find two other announce- 
ments of stolen clothes that are descriptive of the 
articles. The first reads : 

"Stolen from Jonathan Grimes of Second River in New 
Jersey, supposed by an Irishman named John Smith, a few days 
ago the following articles, viz. A light coloured Broad cloth 
coat with blue Lining, white buttons and button holes, two pair 
of Pumps, one pair of blue serge Breeches with white Lining^ 
a white Shirt and a pair of large Brass Buckles." ^3 reward 
is offered for the thief. 

The second plea is as follows : 

'* Lent to a gentleman some time ago, a blue cloth surtout 
coat with metal buttons. As the coat has not been returned, 
it is supposed the gentleman forgot where he had it. This is 
to desire the gentleman to send it to John Crawley's, at the 

187 



Social New York Under the Georges 

New York Arms, whose property it is and it will be received 
with thanks." 

The surtout, mentioned in the above advertise- 
ment, had been a very fashionable garment for some 
time. The hard-hearted Miss Modish, as we have 
seen, compelled her admirer to adopt one. The 
fashionable surtout that was worn in 1 762-3, had 
four flaps on each side called "dog's ears," The long 
cloak had not been abolished, however, even if the 
great-coat had won its way into popular favour. In 
1760, the owner of one thus advertised its loss : 

" Dropped from behind a Sleigh on 22 of December, be- 
tween the hours of ten and eleven at Night from Windmill 
House to the Fly, a large Spanish Cloak of brown Camblet 
lined with green Bays, with a large Hood of the same almost 
ripped off, and ripped at the Seam on the right Shoulder. 
Whoever has found said Cloak, and will bring it to the Printer 
hereof, or to Mr. David Cox, Peruke-Maker, in Broad Street 
shall receive sixteen shillings reward." 

In 1764, a gentleman lost "a brown camblet cloak 
lined with red baize ; " and in 1 765, another gentleman, 
*'a large Spanish brow^n Camblet cloak lined with 
Green Baize, with a large Cap to it," for which he 
offered four dollars reward. 

The wardrobe of an ordinary New York gentle- 
man about 1 740 consisted of a suit of blue broadcloth 
trimmed with silver, a suit of black broadcloth, a suit 
of camlet trimmed with silver, a fustian coat and 
breeches, a green coat and breeches, a new broadcloth 
trimmed with gold, three pairs of silk stockings, five 
pairs of worsted stockings, a pair of silver shoe and 
stock-buckles, a pair of brass knee-buckles, and three 
wigs. This was not excessive. Handsomer costumes 

188 



Costumes of Men 



were sold at Moore and Lynsen's Vendue House in 

1 764, such as a suit of superfine white broadcloth 

trimmed with gold ; a scarlet vest laced with gold ; a 

suit of silk trimmed 

with silver ; and a 

suit of superfine 

blue " trimmed 

with gold vellum 

holes.'' 

On page 195 
is shown a fash- 
ionable costume 
of about 1 760, 
worn bv Richard 
Ray of New York. 
The coat and trou- 
sers are of bluish 
green, with gold but- 
tons, the waistcoat is white 
satin trimmed with gold 
lace. The stock, neck- 
cloth and sleeve -ruffles are 
white. The portrait is owned by Miss Ellen King. 

We may now turn to the unpublished inventory 
of the belongings of an officer in the Royal Ameri- 
cans, — Capt. T. Parker of the Fourth Battalion, who 
died in Martinicpie in 1762. He was the brother of 
Elisha Parker, mentioned on pages 302 and 303. This 
list includes : " i red surtout coat ; 4 cloath waistcoats ; 
6 pair breeches ; 2 pair gloves ; i pair leggins ; i pair 
mackisins ; 2 plain hats; i blue surtout; i muff; i 
pair silver shoe buckles ; 29 shirts ; 2 ])airs linen 

189 




White silk waistcoat embroidered 
in colours. See page 19^. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

drawers ; 1 8 nightcaps ; 4 handkerchiefs ; 6 white 
Hnen waistcoats ; 2 flannel waistcoats ; 5 pairs silk 
stockings; 13 cotton stockings; 13 worsted stock- 
ings ; \ doz. waistcoat buttons ; 3 doz. white buttons ; 
I sword belt ; i pair leather gloves ; i sash ; i gorget ; 
I silver mounted sword ; i clothes brush ; 2 shaving- 
boxes, and I shaving-brush." 

And now let us pause to examine some of the 
more expensive materials that were imported by and 
for the tailors, omitting all such goods as fustians, 
camlets, friezes, sateens, serges, etc. It will be no- 
ticed that the button was of great importance, as it 
formed a trimming for coat and waistcoat, especially 
during the reign of George III., who was himself so 
fond of making buttons that he was laughed at in a 
satire called The Button Maker s Jest-Book. " Vel- 
lum-holes " were also used for decoration. 

We find among the lists: New fashion buttons 
and mohair, 1732; silk camlets with silk and hair 
buttons to suit, striped linsey coats, Scotch plaid, 
snake-skin coatings, light and cloth-coloured sarsenet, 
silk and hair buttons, gilt buttons, 1 743 ; worsted 
plad water'd grograms, scarf buttons, 1 745 ; fine em- 
broidered w^aistcoats, metal and gilt buttons, new 
fashioned coat and waistcoat buttons, fine silk and 
worsted patterns for waistcoats and breeches, silk and 
worsted waistcoats and breeches pieces, mens knit 
waistcoats, black and white stript lutestrings, and 
Turky Tabby buckrams, and breast and shirt metal 
buttons, 1750 ; black silk knit waistcoats and breeches, 
scarlet and black knit worsted waistcoats and breeches, 
Saxon green knit waistcoats, 1751 ; an assortment of 

190 



Costumes of Men 



yellow and white metal buttons, 1752 ; gold and silver 
wire and mohair buttons, and death's head black vest 
buttons, 1754; coloured thread, metal, worsted, and 
death's head buttons, nankeens and breeches patterns, 




Eighteenth century shoe, stock, and knee buckles, of gold and silver set 
with paste ; watches, chatelaines, buttons and fobs ; originals in the 
Museum for the Art of Decoration, Cooper Union. See page 254. 

191 



Social New York Under the Georges 

damask of sundry sorts for vests, black, blue, white, 
scarlet and crimson silk and worsted breeches pat- 
terns, black, blue and cloth coloured best Manchester 
velvet, Manchester velvet shapes for vests, gilt and 
plated buttons, silk twist buttons, gold and silver 
lace, silk and hair grogram and corded tabby, blue 
and crimson Genoa velvet, and remnants of velvet of 
all colours for caps and collars of coats, 1 760 ; gold 
and silver buttons, best London gilt and plate but- 
tons ; three cord silk twist buttons, Prussian mold 
and basket buttons, i 760 ; crimson, scarlet and black 
silk breeches patterns, 1761; basket and plain gilt 
buttons, silk breeches patterns, 1762; plaited basket 
coat and vest buttons, 1 764 ; blue and scarlet new- 
fashioned Bath coating, newest fashion gold, silver 
and metal, scarf, basket, death's head, mohair and 
other buttons fit for slop shops, horsehair buttons and 
other trimming for hatters, gold and silver shoulder 
knots, gold and silver shoulder straps, knee garters, 
blue, black, buff, crimson, scarlet and cloth coloured 
worsted breeches patterns, blue, black, buff, crimson, 
scarlet and cloth coloured silk breeches patterns, 
corded tabbies for men's vests, 1767; silk clouded 
vest patterns richly embroidered and spangled, gold 
spangled frogs for clothes, 1771 ; and royal ribbed 
and Macaroni velvet, feather velvet, figured Manches- 
ter velvet, 1775. In 1773, John Laboyteaux, tailor, 
promised " Any gentleman that chooses to have but- 
tons made of the same cloth can have them worked 
with purl and spangles with any sprig or flower that 
they choose, as neat as those made in London." A 
handsome white silk waistcoat embroidered in colours 

192 



Costumes of Men 



appears on page 189. It belonged to a Col. John 
Brown who died in 1781. 

Steel buttons are shown on page i 79. These be- 
longed to William Beekman and were the same that 
trim the waistcoat he wears in his portrait on page 
183. It will be noticed that he carries his cocked 
hat under his arm in the fashionable style. The shoes 
of the men, generally speaking, were like the women's, 
— with high heels, high vamp and buckles on the in- 
step. In 1753, the beau wore : 

" A pair of smart pumps made up of grained leather, 
So thin he can't venture to tread on a feather ; 
His buckles like diamonds must glitter and shine — 
Should they cost fifty pounds they would not be too tine." 

All through our period, there were importations of 
fine stitched pumps, neat channelled boots and pumps, 
turned pumps ; and double and single channelled 
pumps, and in i 763, Alexander Montgomery, at the 
Fly Market, next door to Mr. Brovort's, opposite to 
Mrs. Rutgers, offered "a parcel of greased leather 
double and single channelled pumps, stitched high 
heeled shoes and pumps of the very best sort, from 
fourteen shillings to sixteen shillings per pair." 

The buckle was the important ornament of the 
shoe : these were of diamonds, paste, gold, silver, 
open-worked polished steel, pinchbeck, or black. 
The high top-boot with its upper part of light leather, 
was worn by huntsmen, and the dashing bucks and 
dandies of the day often appeared in them. Of 
course, spurs were fixed to them. These boots were 
worn by the officers, for, like the Kevenhuller cocked 
hat, they were distinctly military. There were nu- 
14 193 



Social New York Under the Georges 

merous shoemakers in New York, but probably not 
very many who had the courage to expose their pa- 
trons, as one of them does in i 749 : 

" This is to give notice to the person who calls himself a 
gentleman of the city of New York, and who was pleased to 
send me so many messages concerning the making of his ex- 
traordinary shoes, that they are now done and finished, there- 
fore pray him to come (tho' not without money) and fetch 
them, for as I have known him a bad paymaster some years, do 
not care now leather is dear, to let them go without, and as 
they are made the one larger than the other, on account of his 
sore foot, beg that he would not let them lie on my hands, lest 
I expose him more publicly." 

Stockings were invariably of silk with clocks, and 
until the last years of George II, were rolled beneath 
the knee and kept in place by the garter and knee- 
buckles, which were similar to the shoe-buckles, but 
larger. Knee-garters were of silk. Cloth-coloured 
knee-garters appeared in 1 760, and we even find 
among the goods that Mr. Stuyvesant advertised for 
sale in i 764 " ladies' and gentlemen's silk garters with 
mottoes." Large bunches of ribbons, or strings, dec- 
orated the knees of the Macaroni. 

The shirt was always of fine linen, or cambric, and 
was frequently trimmed with a frill when a small cra- 
vat was worn. During some seasons the black soli- 
taire that was fastened to the bag-wig was preferred ; 
at others, a stock and stock-buckle ; and, finally, in 
the Macaroni period, the style was to wrap oneself in 
a large neckerchief, which was tied in a bow under 
the chin. Specimen stock, knee and shoe-buckles 
appear on page 191 ; and a pair of paste knee buckles 
on page i 79. 

194 



Costumes of Men 



Ruffles always framed the wrists and these were 
often of rich lace. " Gentlemen's ruffles of blond 
lace " were sold by Nicholas Stuyvesant in i 764. 

There were many varieties of handkerchiefs, such 
as plain and flowered, and those made of various kinds 
of silk. We meet with 
both Barcelona handker- 
chiefs and cravats. 

Among the varieties 
of gloves we may note : 
" Men's and boys glazed 
kid and lamb, unbound 
and ribbon bound gloves " 
and " men's coloured welt- 
ed mittens," 1751 ; "men's 
black and white silk gloves, 
black and white buck, 
shammv, and wash leather, 
shammy and best buckskin 
gloves," 1769. 

The jewelry consisted 
of knee, shoe, and stock buckles, watches with a 
bunch of seals (the Macaroni wore two watches) and 
rings. The men, of course, wore swords, and carried 
canes and walking-sticks and often umi)rellas. The 
canes and walking-sticks were gold, silver, or ivory- 
headed, and in 1745 sometimes had small compasses 
fixed upon them. An ivorv headed walking-stick 
that belonged to William Beekman appears on page 
179, and other examj)les, with a sword, on page 263. 
" Umbrelloes of all sorts" were imported in 1761 
bv John Ilammerslv and Compan\', near the Coen- 

•95 




Portrait of Richard Rav, painted 
about 1760. Seepage 189. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

ties Market, and in 1 764 silk umbrellas were ad- 
vertised. 

The pocket-book was of red Morocco with silver 
clasps, such as the one lost at the Play House in 1761, 
or of shagreen with silver or pinchbeck clasps. Fre- 
quently in the pocket an essence-bottle was carried, 
and, of course, the snuff-box. The latter was of 
every variety : gold or silver, plain, chased or jewelled, 
set with precious or semi-precious stones, or paste, of 
tortoiseshell, of china painted and enamelled, and of 
French paper. A very handsome one was described 
on Dec. 5, 1748, as "a silver snuff box of an oval 
figure ; the lid, mother-of-pearl, with a shell carved 
upon it." A collection of tortoiseshell-boxes appears 
on page 376. 

Although the period under review was essentially 
one of splendid attire and ceremonial robes, yet in 
New York, a democratic tendency towards a neglect 
of form was sometimes observable. As early as 1747, 
a writer who calls himself Thomas Trim speaks of the 
great uneasiness he feels when he observes the con- 
tempt with which the people sometimes treat their 
elective magistrates. The fault he said lay entirely 
with the latter, because they did not maintain the dig- 
nity of their office, but consorted with the lowest of 
the people. Another cause that contributed to the 
contempt of Corporation Magistrates was the robes 
they wore in the distribution of justice. Thomas 
Trim went on to say : 

" To see an alderman sit or stand in the seat of Justice, 
and award the payment of 5.? 6^/ to a person of his Ward that 
comes to him for rehef, in the jiompous robe of a greasy wool- 

196 



Costumes of Men 



len cap and a tettered Banjam jacket, must certainly command 
the greatest respect, both to their knowledge and good man- 
ners. Yet I have seen one of these robed magistrates vouch- 
safe to powder his wig and put it on, without quitting his Ban- 
jam, to sup with one of the Ward upon the profits of his daily 
labour, provided the feast was graced with some good oysters, 
a pipe of tobacco and a mug of strong beer. I am not for 
becoming a slave to the fashion, or making dress the whole 
business of my life; though at the same time, I think every 
person that appears in public, clothed in authority, should be 
decent and clean. The people in general love show, and always 
pay a greater regard to a magistrate in his proper robes than 
when he thinks proper to appear in the dress of a smith, mason, 
or carpenter. I will venture to affirm, no magistrate ever lost 
a vote by putting on a clean shirt when he was dirty, or cloth- 
ing the seat of his brain with a powdered wig instead of a dirty 
cap, or even by keeping of good Company." 




The ship Hope. (1767.) 



197 



PART V 
THE DRESS OF WOMEN 



PART V 
THE DRESS OF WOMEN 



TOILET, PAINTS AND PERFUMES 

It is very difficult to realize the extensive use the 
fashionable women of the Eighteenth Century made 
of cosmetics. A lady's dressing-table exhibited an 
extraordinary array of paste-pots, scent-bottles, jars 
of pomatum, bags of perfume, pincushions, boxes of 
rouge, powder and unguents, washes, ^>^?'.s/?7//(^jr dc 
Bocca to sweeten the breath, and dishes, bowls and 
spoons for mixing the various compounds considered 
necessary to improve the skin, eyebrows, lips, hands 
and hair. One English satirist aptly remarked that it 
took a whole morning to put on what it took a whole 
evening to put off. In i 730, Swift wrote : 

" Five hours (and who can do it less in ?) 
By haughty Celia spent in dressing ; 
The goddess from her chamber issues, 
Array 'd in lace, brocade and tissues." 

The Lady Betty Modishes, Sir Fopling Flutters, 
Sir Courtly Nices, Lady Wishforts and Lady Teazles 
spent more than half their lives in dressing-rooms 
preparing to shine at assemblies, racquets, routs, card- 
parties, and theatres. No secret was made of the 

201 



Social New York Under the Georges 



laying on of artificial beauty, and, indeed, sometimes, 
wliile at entertainments, gay coquettes would retire to 
make the roses in their cheeks bloom afresh. Horace 
Walpole, after taking his beautiful niece, Lady Wal- 

degrave, and her friend 
Mrs. Ashe to Vauxhall, 
jots down: "They had 
just refreshed their last 
layers of red and looked 
as handsome as crimson 
could make them " ; and at 
the coronation of George 
III. in 1761, when he 
" dressed part of Lady 
Suffolk's head," he tells 

us that " Lord B put 

on rouge upon his wife 
and the Duchess of Bed- 
ford in the Painted Cham- 
ber. The Duchess of 
Queensberry told me of the latter that she looked 
like an orange peach, half red and half yellow." 

In the Georgian age, many women fell victims to 
over-indulgence in cosmetics. One of these was 
Lady Coventry, one of the beautiful Gunning sisters. 
Lord Harrington's daughter was another. The poet 
Cowper, condemning this practice in 1 784, says if a 
London physician w^ere allowed to blab, he " could 
publish a bill of female mortality that would astonish 
us." This use of cosmetics was carried to such ex- 
treme length, that, in 1770, an Act of Parliament was 
proposed prohibiting every woman, maid, wife, or 

202 




Portrait of Mrs. Richard Ray 
(Sarah Bogert, 1728-1781). 
See page 228. 



The Dress of Women 



widow, no matter what aj^e, rank or occupation, try- 
ing to entrap any of His Majesty's subjects by the 
aid of perfumes, false hair, or crcpou d' Espagnc (a 
kind of woollen stuff impregnated with rouge). The 
penalty w^as that any woman using these aids to 
beauty would be treated as a sorceress and dealt with 
according to law. Her marriage would also be de- 
clared void. 

The favourite bloom in the days of Queen Anne 
was the "Bavarian Red Liquor" which was even 
"taken inwardly;" French red, Spanish red, Spanish 
paper, Chinese w^ool, and carmine were among the 
other rouges employed. Pearl and bismuth powders 
were popular ; and the soaps were legion. " Wash- 
balls," composed of rice powder, orris, white lead, 
variously marbled, or coloured, were also numerous ; 
and as for the waters and scents introduced or com- 
pounded by the famous Charles Lillie, their mere 
enumeration w^ould occupy pages. One of the most 
popular was the "Princely Perfume" described as a 
delightful powder for the scenting of handkerchiefs, 
gloves, and linen, and which perfumed " the hands, 
the hair of the head and periwigs most delicately." 
Another was the famous " Hungary water," composed 
of rosemary, rectified spirits, and Jamaica ginger. 
Another was " King's Honey Water," bv the use of 
which the Duchess of Marlborough was said to have 
kept the colour of her beautiful hair. Among other 
scents and waters, the favourites were : aml)ergris, 
musk, benjamin, bergamot, lavender, red spirit of 
lavender, attar of roses, sandal, citron, perfumed cat- 
chup, essence of jessamine, essence of orange flowers, 

20:; 



Social New York Under the Georges 

oils of rhodium, roses, lavender, cloves, rosemary, 
coriander, marjoram, cinnamon, orange-flower water, 
myrtle, rose and Cordova water, can dc carin, can dc 
hiCL\ and can sans parcil. 

The beauties and coquettes, maids and matrons of 
New York, were no less eager than their London 
relatives to make themselves handsome according to 
the standards of the day. The milliners, the chemists, 
the hair-dressers and even the highly-respected printer 
and bookseller, Hugh Gaine, tempted them with 
every article that was to be found on London toilet- 
tables. These scents, waters, rouges, pomatums, hair- 
dyes, etc. must have met with a great sale since they 
were advertised among the goods in every cargo. 

If we take a few instances of articles imported and 
recommended, it will be seen that this statement is 
not fanciful. The can dc luce, which Anstey num- 
bered in his Nciu BatJi Guide in i 766 as one of the 
requisites every belle should carry with her to the 
fashionable w^atering-place, came in 1762 in "Bottles 
with cases, an excellent Remedy for the Head Ach, 
and very convenient for Gentlemen and Ladies to 
carry in their Pockets." Eau sans pai'cil, mentioned 
by Anstey, was here in 1761. In 1762, Hugh Gaine 
is selling " Princely Beautifying Lotion, so much 
esteemed for its sreneral Utilitv bv Persons of all 
Ranks in Great Britain and Ireland." Two years 
later, he described it more in detail and even recom- 
mended that it be " taken inwardly." His appeal to 
the vanity of the ladies is worth quoting : 

"The Princely Beautifying Lotion. It beautifies the Face, 
Neck and Hands to the Utmost Perfection and is in the great- 

204 



The Dress of Women 



est Esteem amongst Ladies, etc. of the first Quality. No words 
can sufficiently express its virtues, for it is not of the nature of 
paint, which puts a false unnatural gloss on the Skin, Init is 
a true Remedy, that by its use really adds a Lustre to the 
most Beautiful by showing the fine features of the Face ; and 
is so safe not having the least grain of Mercury in it, that it 
may be taken inwardly; and if smelled to, is really good 
against the Vapours, etc. in Ladies, the very Reverse of all 
other Remedies of this kind which raise the A^apours." 

Long before this, however, we find fine lavender 
water and King's Honey water, constantly advertised, 
as well as tlungary water. Damask rose-water, scent- 
eggs, lip-salve, cold-cream, sticking-plaster, patches, 
coiu't-plaster, pomatum, hair-dyes, marble wash-balls, 
powder-boxes and puffs. 

In 1753, Barak Hayes in Bayard Street, was selling 
among other commodities, at the lowest prices, fine 
perfumes, marble wash-balls in cases, lavender-water, 
King's honey-water, Royal milk-water which took all 
spots, scurfs, pimples and freckles off the face, fine 
British oil for the gout and rheumatism, Greenough's 
tincture for preserving the teeth and gums, essence of 
bergamot. essence of lemon, good Capilier, Hungary 
water, soap-boxes and brushes for shaving, fine 
scented powder, tooth-powder and brushes for the 
teeth, lip-salve, tooth-pickers, patch-boxes, snuff, po- 
matum, etc. In 1754, we note all sorts of ]:)erfumcs ; 
"the right Persian soap in boxes for lathering the 
head and face with all sorts of brushes for the same ; 
true French Hungary water ; the very best double 
distilled lavender, nuns tooth-pickers, and double and 
single pins for the hair." Mint and pepper-mint water 
become popular about i 762. 

205 



Social New York Under the Georges 



In 1765, Thomas B. Attw^ood in Broad Street, 
had a long list of toilet and medicinal wares includ- 
ing, James's powders, Fraunces's elixir. Squire's elixir, 
Bostock's elixir, Blois's lozenges, Chace's balsamic 
pills. Pectoral balsam of honey, Hill's tincture of 
valerian, Jesuit's drops, Bateman's drops, Godfrey's 

cordial. Balsam of health, 
Boerhaave's balsam. Cold 
cream, Vitriolic ether for 
headache, corn plaster, Ry- 
an's sugar plumbs, paste for 
the teeth, shaving machines, 
powder puffs, hair-powder 
plain and scented, grey pow- 
der for mourning, smelling- 
bottles, Belli, dc incc, EaiL 
sans parcil, and such simple 
and compound waters as 
peppermint, Hungary, lav- 
ender, rose, orange flower, 
honey, bergamot, elder flow- 
er, Pyrmont and Spaw wa- 
ters, oil of cinnamon, oil of nutmegs, oil of cloves, 
and Rhodium, 

For many years, the ladies and gentlemen of fash- 
ion patronized a chemist named Edward Agar, who 
lived near the Coffee House. Among his wares in i 765 
were Royal Cream Wash Balls, Imperial ditto mar- 
bled. Ditto Cold. Cream, or the Royal Cosmetic Beau- 
tifying Lotion and " Italian Red for the Ladies, which 
gives a beautiful florid Colour to the Skin, where 
Nature is deficient not to be distinguished from the 




Portrait of Mrs. Pierre Vallete 
(Maria Jay, 1 700-1 762), 
owned by Mrs. Matthew 
Clarkson. See page 228. 



206 



The Dress of Women 



Natural Bloom of Youth." About the same time, 
there was a " Grecian Liquid for changing the hair 
from any colour to a beautiful black." 

Hugh Gaine continued to sell similar articles 
during these years. In 1771, he imported : 

" The Beautifying Ointment, which was sold by Dr. Con- 
stable in Chappie Street, some years ago with great success, in 
curing all carbuncles, pimples or cutaneous eruptions, render- 
ing the face smooth and of a good colour, may now be had of 
the Printer hereof: 'Tis innocent and may be used with great 
safety by either sex." 

He also advertised " Lady Molineux's Italian 
Paste for enamelling the hands and neck of a lovely 
white," and " The \"enetian Paste," which rendered 
the skin "as soft as velvet," in 1774. 

The following was a novelty and was doubtless 
purchased in generous quantities : 

" Now first imported to North America. The Bloom of 
Circassia. It is allowed that the Circassians are the most beau- 
tiful women in the world. However, they derive not all their 
charms from nature. A gentleman long resident there in the 
suite of a person of distinction, well-known for his travels thro' 
Greece, became acquainted with the secret of the Liquid Bloom, 
extracted from a vegetable, the produce of that Country, in 
general use there with the most esteemed beauties. It differs 
from all others in two very essential points. First, that it in- 
stantly gives a rosy hue to the cheeks, not to be distinguished 
from the lively and ornamental bloom of rural beauty, nor will 
it come off by perspiration, or the use of a handkerchief. A 
moment's trial will prove that it is not to be parallelled." 

It is to be hoped that the "Bloom of Circassia" 
was not identical with the " Balm of Mecca," which 
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu applied when she vis- 

207 



Social New York Under the Georges 

ited the East and which she said made her face red 
and swollen for three days. All through these years, 
many dressing-cases had been sold made of shagreen, 
morocco, str<\\\ and mahogany, well equipped with 
every needed article. Perhaps the most attractive 
was advertised in 1774, by James Rivington, who had 
"dressing-boxes for the toilet of Sacharissa" for sale. 




G. Duyckinck, at the "Sign of the Looking-Glass 
and Druggist Pot." (1768.) 



208 



II 

HAIR-DRESSING: CAPS AND HATS 

TiiRouoiiouT the Eio;hteenth Century, the arrange- 
ment of the hair was eceentric. In 171 1, Addison de- 
voted an essay to the subject of the head-dress, de- 
chiring that " there is not so variable a thing in nature," 
and asserting that "within my own memory I have 
known it rise and fall above thirtv degrees. About 
ten years ago it shot up to a very great height, inso- 
much that the female part of our species were much 
taller than the men." The witty satirist is, of course, 
referring to the commode, or fontange, that origi- 
nated with Mademoiselle Fontange at the court of 
Louis XI\". in 1680. This head-dress, which was 
sometimes also called a "tower," was composed of two 
or three tiers of lace arranged very stiffly above the 
forehead and kept in ])lace by a knot of ribbon l)ehind. 
It was popular in England during the reigns of Mary 
and Anne. The hair itself was simply arranged, 
often in curls. 

In I 729, "gauze heads" were very fashionable and, 
after a short period when a low coiffure was worn, the 
arrangement of the hair became more and more elab- 
orate until George III.'s reign, when it developed 
into the complicated structure which remained in 
vogue until i 780, ever increasing in height and eccen- 
tricity. From 1749 to 1776, there were no fewer 
15 209 



Social New York Under the Georges 

than fortv-one wig-makers and hair-dressers registered 
amonof the freemen of New York. The advertise- 
ments of several of these are given in the chapter on 
the costume of men. Not a few of them made a 
business of dressing the hair of the ladies and furnish- 
ing them with fashionable towers, tHcs or heads, per- 
rukes, etc. There was evidently much competition 
among these barbers for the patronage of the fair sex. 

"Simon Franks from London makes and sells all sorts 
of perukes, after the best and newest fashion, cuts and dresses 
ladies' wigs and towers after a manner performed much better 
than is pretended to be done by some others." (174S.) 

During this age, it was impossible for ladies to 
dress their hair themselves. The great erection on 
their heads had to be "composed" or built up with 
pads, cushions, puffs and curls before it was orna- 
mented with lappets, gauze, lace, poicfs, feathers, ropes 
of pearls or beads, jewels, ornamental pins and various 
fantastic gewgaws. With a plentiful supply of poma- 
tum, powder and false hair, as well as crisping and 
curling tongs and pins, the barber "works all into 
such a state of confusion, that you would imagine it 
was intended for the stuffing of a chair-bottom ; then 
bending it into various curls and shapes over his finger, 
he fastens it with black pins so tight to the head that 
neither the weather nor time have power to alter its 
position. Thus my lady is dressed for three months 
at least ; during which time it is not in her power to 
comb her head." 

As a rule, this head was retouched every day and 
anointed with strong essences. Every few weeks, it 
was taken to pieces and built up again. The descrip- 

210 



The Dress of Women 



tions of "opening a lady's head" in the contemporary 
magazines do not bear quotation. Satirists found the 
lady's head a theme for attack ; but their verses and 
essays had no effect upon fashion. T/ie Universal 
Magazine in i 768 published the following stanzas to 
a belle of the day : 

" When he views your tresses thin 
Tortur'd by some Yx^n<:.\\frisciir, 
Horsehair, hemp and wool within 
Garnished with a di'mond skewer, 

" When he scents the ming'led steam 
Which your plaster'd heads are rich in. 
Lard and meal and clouted cream. 
Can he love a walking-kitchen ? " 

This was published only a few months after the 
following had appeared in a New York paper : 

" It is now the mode to make a lady's head of twice the 
natural size by means of artificial pads, bolsters, or rolls over 
which their hair is carefully combed, or frizzled to imitate the 
shock head of a negro." 

In 1773, we gain a good idea of the appearance of 
one of these fashionable tetes in these lines : 

" White as the covered Alps, or wintry face 
Of snowy Lapland her toupee uprear'd, 
Exhibits to the view a cumbrous mass 
Of curls high nodding o'er her polish'd brow, 
From which redundant tlows the Brussels lace 
With pendant ribbons too of various dye. 
Where all the colours in the ethereal bow 
LTnite and blend and tantalize the sight." 

Hannah More referred to this ridiculous fashion 
in one of her letters of 1777, and described eleven 
ladies who had among them on their heads an acre 
and a half of shrubbery, besides grass-plots, tulip-beds, 

21 1 



Social New York Under the Georges 

kitchen gardens, peonies, etc. She also says some of 
these head-dresses, with their decorations, cost hun- 
dreds of pounds ! 

Not only did the barbers and peruke-makers adver- 
tise everything that was needed in their line, but other 
people were constantly importing powders, pins, po- 
matums and essences. As early as 1 734, Peter 
Lynch, near Mr. Rutger's Brew-house, had for sale 
" very good Orange butter ; it is excellent for Gentle- 
women to comb up their Hair with." Hair-pins, hair- 
bags, powder-boxes and puffs, wig-springs and brushes, 
hair-dyes, best grey powder for mourning, hair powder 
])lain and perfumed, and pomatum came in great 
quantities in 1760-1. We notice hair-fillets in 1764 ; 
tupee combs in i 765 ; and, if we turn to the milliners' 
announcements, everything that can be thought of 
in the way of ribands, beads, feathers, lace, lappets, 
gauze, aigrettes and ornaments of all sorts for the 
decoration of the monstrous '' tctc.'" 

This brings us to a consideration of hats, bonnets, 
caps and hoods of the period. These, naturally 
enough, varied in shape and style to suit the ar- 
rangement of the hair. The commode, which held 
its place during the reign of Queen Anne, was in 
itself a kind of cap and admitted no other covering 
upon the head. The hood was, however, verv fre- 
(juently worn and was suscejjtible of graceful arrange- 
ment. In 1711-12 the Spectator humorously or- 
dered : '' All ladies who come to church in the new- 
fashioned hoods, are desired to be there before divine 
service begins, lest they divert the attention of the 
congregation." The ladies wore these when travel- 

212 



The Dress of Women 



ling and frequently when walking- in gardens and 
parks. 

One of the favourite varieties of hood was the 
Nithsdale, worn for many years after 1715, partieular- 
ly by elderly women. This got its name from the 
ruse of Ladv Nithsdale in effecting her husband's 




\ 



^ 



Green and blue silk calashes, in the Museum of the New York 
Colonial Dames. See page 218. 



escape from the Tower, in 1715, by dressing him in 
female clothes and wrapping her ample riding-hood 
around his head and shoulders. Hoods were still 
being worn in ij^i-^, as the following advertisement 
will show : 

" Margaret St. Maurice, cap-maker, from London, informs 
her customers that she has removed from Mr. Bayard's Wharf 
to the house of Mr. Vandike, opposite the Old Dutch Church, 
where she makes all sorts of Men's, Women's, and children's 
Velvet and Silk Jockey Caps, do. Hats, Bath Bonnets, Hoods, 

213 



Social New York Under the Georges 

and Pullareens for Ladies in the most neat and fashionable 
manner as in London. She likewise makes Bags and Tossels 
for Gentlemen's Wiggs, also silk and velvet hats for Boys, all 
done at very reasonable Rates." 

The puUarecn was, of course, the p tier nu\ a kind 
of tippet. In 1749, she advertises " masks for ladies." 

In I 750, the horsehair hat was introduced and long 
remained popular. We notice importations of horse- 
hair hats, black horsehair hats and black and white 
silk hats, in i 750 ; women's masquerade hats ; black 
horsehair and Leghorn hats, women's capuchines, 
gauze snail shades with hoods, new fashioned gauze 
caps, hoods, ladies' paduasoy hats, bonnets, gauze 
caps, caps and ruffles made after the newest fashion, 
1751 ; and coloured silk and horsehair hats, 1754. 

The capuchine was a cloak with a hood, modelled 
on the garment worn by the Capuchin friars. It long 
continued to be popular, and was often made of beau- 
tiful materials. Simple straw hats modelled after 
those of milkmaids and shepherdesses in the affected 
rusticity of the day, Leghorn and chip hats, turbans, 
and brims without crowns, convenient for slipping 
over the increasing " head " of hair, now arrived in 
bew^ildering numbers. Every year, indeed, every sea- 
son, brought some new style in trimmings. Some- 
times it was a turban, with all its trimming piled on 
top of the crown ; sometimes a chip or Leghorn with 
a low crown and a wide l)rim having a poitf and a 
spray of flowers and a bunch of ribbons with ends 
hanging down the back ; sometimes, a beaver or 
castor ; sometimes, a horsehair hat ; and sometimes, 
a " shade." 

214 



The Dress of Women 



The popularity of the chip hat was due to its adop- 
tion by the beautiful Gunnings, who drove London 
wild with their beauty. One of their rivals said all 
she needed to make her as charming as either of those 
lovely sisters was an "elegant cocked chip hat, with 
a large rose on the left side, and tied under the chin 
with cherry-coloured ribbons." 

The varieties and names for the trimmings for 
both hats and caps are legion ; there are ribbons plain 
and flowered, paduasoy, taffety and lutestring ribbons, 
fiofured ribbons, o^auze ribbons and satin ribbons. Then 
there are plain and flowered gauzes of all kinds, black 
and white lace, and silver lace. It may be interesting 
to examine a typical assortment in 1754: 

" M. Derham, milliner from London, by way of Philadelphia 
in the Rachel, Capt. Joy, at her shop near Alderman Living- 
ston's in South Street, has brought a genteel and new assort- 
ment of figur'd ribbons, plain ducapes, satten do., gauzes, cat- 
gut, Paris net, white and coloured blond lace, silk edgings, 
thread do., striped and plain gauze handkerchiefs, Dresden 
ditto, aprons, ruffles both for gentlemen and ladies, French 
gloves, neat tanned, glazed and satten gloves, necklaces and 
earrings, fans, patches and court plaster, lavender, hungary 
and honey waters, Chip hats, French silks for capuchines, black 
silk laces and fringes, hollands, long lawns, clear flower'd and 
minionet ditto, fine book and other muslins. Likewise, an 
assortment of hosiery and haberdashery ; line green and bohea 
tea, ladies shoes, an assortment of cutlery, cards and ink-pow- 
der. Everything in the millinery way is made up in the newest 
fashion, such as lappet heads, caps, French handkerchiefs, 
ruffles, stomachers, ruffs, sleeve and glove knots, shades, capu- 
chines, hats, bonnets, etc., at the very lowest prices." 

About 1755, a very extraordinarv decoration for 
the head was introduced. It appears to have taken 

215 



Social New York Under the Georges 

the ladies by storm and to have furnished caricaturists 
and satirists with some material for amusement. It 
was known as the cabriole, cabrio/ct, or capriole, and 
the best idea we can give of it is to refer to a contem- 
porary number of T/ie Connoisseur, in which there is 
a letter ridiculing the new fashion. This must have 
been more of an ornament than a head-dress, for the 
author, when looking at one of these equipages de- 
signed for the head of a lady of quality, placed it in 
the palm of his hand and remarked that he could not 
help fancying himself " Gulliver taking up the Em- 
press of Lilliput in her state coach. The vehicle 
itself " he continued, "was constructed of gold threads 
and was drawn by six dapple greys of blown glass, 
with a coachman, postillion and gentleman within of 
the same brittle manufacture." A few current lines 
speak of it thus : 

" Here on the fair one's headdress sparkh'ng sticks 
Swinging on silver springs a coach and six ; 
There on a sprig or slop'd poupon you see, 
A chariot, sulky, chaise, ox vis-a-7'isy 

" Shades lorrains," bonnets, and "hives" were ad- 
vertised in 1757; and castor hats in 1760. In 1761, 
among the newest fashions in head-gear were stamped 
shades, trolly and catgut hoods, gauze caps, Chinese 
bonnets, felt hats, silk hats and bonnets, blown lace, 
French trimmings, and newest ribbons of a la mode, 
— blue, green, white, buff and figured. The cap that 
came into fashion about 1762 was the " flv," modelled 
after a butterfly. It was edged with semi-precious 
stones, more often paste brilliants or garnets. As it 
made a very bright frame for the face and head, it 

216 



The Dress of Women 



was adopted with fervour and New York ladies could 
have procured it from the very prosperous milliner 
who made the following bid for custom : 

" Elizabeth Colville, in Hanover Square, takes this method 
to inform her Friends and Customers that she intends carrying 
on the Business of a Milliner in all its Branches; having a 
young Woman just come over from England, who is well ac- 
quainted therewith, where Ladies and Gentlemen may be sup- 
plied with everything in the genteelest Taste and greatest 
Despatch. 

"She has now by her a fashionable assortment of Caps, 
Ruffs, Handkerchiefs, Ruffles, Aprons, Muffs and Tippets, and 
sundry other Things in the Millinery Way, and continues the 
Business of Shop- Keeping as Usual. 

" N. B. She has to sell a House and three Lots of Ground 
on the College Ground." 

The " fly cap " is advertised among the goods of 
Nicholas William Stuyvesant in i 764, in which year 
we find that silk umbrellas, ivory fans, fancy stom- 
achers, "egrets and breast-flowers," and "common 
sable, squirrel and feather muffs and tippets and er- 
mine " are imported. 

About this time, the flat hat was particularly ad- 
mired. A contemporary remarks that it "affords the 
ladies that arch ros^uish air which the winijed hat ofives 
to Mercury ; it animates their faces with a degree of 
vivacity which is not natural to them." The arch, 
roguish air was exactlv what the coquettes of the day 
affected, and naturally, the flat hat with its variety of 
ornaments was reluctantly given up. Wc still find 
the same ribbons, gauze catgut net, Paris net, silver 
and gold blond and bone lace, and paduasoy and lute- 
string ribbons ; but novelties were constantly invented 

217 



Social New York Under the Georges 



to tempt the purse and set off the charms of the fair. 
We mav note the new importations of turbans, chip 
hats and bonnets, Italian head-dresses, new fashioned 
caps, Leghorn, Dunstable and fine chip hats, m 1769 ; 
feathers for riding hats in 1764; black and wliite 

feathers for ladies' riding- 
hats, 1767; Italian and 
French flowers, 1767; and 
black and blue feathers, 
I 769. We must not omit 
the new and fashionable 
" calash," introduced by 
the Duchess of Bedford in 
1765. This was an enor- 
mous hood, made some- 
thing like the hood of a 
carriage. It was ribbed 

Portrait of Mrs. James Duane ^^^i^h whalcbonCS, thuS CU- 
( Maria Livingston), owned by abling it tO fold, and it 

Mrs. Wilmot Tovvnsend Cox. was tied with ribbons un- 
See pages 218, 219. der the chin. A string 

was attached to the front, 
which the wearer could pull and therefore draw the 
hood over her head. The calash was only worn by 
the women of fashion with their enormous piles and 
towers of hair. Two of these remarkable concoc- 
tions appear upon page 213. One is of dark blue 
and the other of dark green silk. Both are lined with 
silk. Close caps, very much laughed at as night-caps, 
made with wings, appeared in 1773, and were con- 
sidered very correct for undress. 

An interesting and fashionable cap is worn by 

218 




The Dress of Women 



Mrs. James Diiaiie (Maria Livinoston, l)()rn, 172.SJ 
in her ])ortrait that is shown on page 2i(S. 

Feathers were in great demand in 1775, for the 
fashion eame in to sweep tlie hair off the forehead 
and draw it high above tlie face. The back was orna- 
mented in rolls and two curls were placed below the 
ears. Three large ostrich plumes were stiffly arranged 
upon the top of the head for full dress. 




John Burchet, stay and riding habit maker, from London and Paris, 
at the "Sign of the Crown and Stavs." (i773-) 



219 



Ill 

GLOVES, SHOES, AND STAYS 

Our colonial ancestors wore many varieties of 
gloves. We find among the importations from time 
to time: worsted and kid gloves, 1743; shammy and 
glazed gloves and silk mittens, 1750; women's and 
maid's black ruff gloves, white kid and lamb gloves, 
glazed kid and lamb, unbound and ribbon-bound 
gloves, and coloured flapped mittens, 1751; French 
gloves, black, white, and coloured silk mits, and neat 
tanned and glazed satten gloves, 1754; satten gloves, 
black silk mits, trimmed glove-tops, purple and 
black kid gloves and mits, and silk and worsted mits, 
1 761; and purple, black, white and cloth-coloured 
mits and gloves, silk, worsted, kid, and lamb's gloves, 
and black and coloured mits, 1769. In addition to 
these gloves worn for dress, there were "chicken 
skin " gloves made of a thin strong leather and dressed 
with almonds and spermaceti. These were worn at 
night to make the hands "plump, soft and white." 

The laces and ribbons of the day have already 
been described with the hats and caps. We must re- 
member that lace was used for ruffles which were an 
important finish to the sleeve. Ruffles were also 
made of the popular gauze and lawn, and were plain, 
checked, or flowered. "Dresden ruffles" for men and 
women were advertised in 1754. Gauzes, Paris net 

220 



The Dress of Women 



and catgut came in colours, as well as in black and 
white ; and lawns were clear, flowered, spotted, chec- 
quered, or of the kind known as "minionet." Hand- 
kerchiefs were of silk, lawn, satin, linen or gauze. We 
find them designated as flowered bordered, flowered 
Kenting, Barcelona, culgee, rosette, satin check, and 
also made of black and light-coloured gauze, of striped 
flowered and spotted lawn, of white with flowered 
borders, and with flowered and striped borders. 

We must not forget to mention the important 
apron, which was often worn on dress occasions. 
This article became extremely fashionable in England 
during the reign of W^illiam III., when it was small 
and edged with lace. In the reign of George II. 
it was worn very long and, sometimes, was quite 
plain in comparison to that fashionable in Queen 
Anne's day. Then it was embroidered and orna- 
mented with gold or silver lace and spangles. Beau 
Nash, the autocrat of Bath, very properly objected to 
the apron, and he forbade any lady wearing one to be 
admitted to the assemblies at Bath ; for he said " none 
but Abigails appear in white aprons." For some un- 
known reason aprons lingered ; and we find them 
in New York, just as we do in London, made of 
flowered and plain lawn, gauze, gauze with trollvs 
(evidently a kind of lace) and finely flowered. In 
I 75 1, a New York lady offers a pistole reward for a 
lost " fine flowered muslin apron." 

The belle of the Eighteenth Century paid much 
attention to the dressing of her feet. Owing to the 
shortness of her hoop petticoat, which subjected her 
to so much ridicule, her shoe was always visible, and 

22 I 



Social New York Under the Georges 

as long as the wide spreading skirt remained in 
fashion, the style of shoe or slipper changed but little. 
From the many examples contained in Hogarth's 
pictures, we are familiar enough with the slender, 
pointed toe, high vamp, large buckles and enormous 
heel, — the type that lasted from about 1753, when we 
read : 

" Mount on French heels when you go to a ball — 
'Tis the fashion to totter and show you can fall " 

to 1 771, when a lady was described as wearing heels 
that were three inches and a half high. 

These delicate and uncomfortable shoes — for the 
high heels pitched the body forward and forced the 
wearer to adopt a slow and mincing gait — were fre- 
quently embroidered with flowers on silk or satin and 
ornamented with a diamond, paste, or silver buckle. 
Again, they would be made of satin, figured silk, dam- 
ask, calimanco, russell, or everlasting. London sent 
very handsome shoes to New York : rich gold and 
silver-point shoe-shapes and embroidered shoe-tops 
appeared in i 750, with the cheaper red and drab shoes, 
and women's and girls' damask, russell and everlasting 
shoes; silk and stuff shoes were imported in 1751; 
women's leather shoes and pumps, 1 760 ; women's 
satin shoes, 1761 ; and women's and maids' calimanco 
shoes and children's Morocco pumps, 1769. 

There were several fashionable shoemakers here. 
In 1765, one announces : "Women's best silk, russell, 
caliimanco and everlasting shoes made in New York, 
equal if not superior to any made in London, by 
James Wells." Another, was John Lasker, who lived 
in Bowling Green, next door to Mr. Samuel Bayard's; 



The Dress of IVomen 



a third, was John Milligan in Beaver Street ; and a 
fourth was Benjamin Burras, silk and stuff shoemaker 
in Broad Street, in 1773. Clogs and pattens, and 
goloshes and silk ear'd clogs appear in i 760. 

Cloaks were worn all through our period. We 
find short cloaks, in 1751 ; scarlet drab and blue 




French fan of the period, owned by Mrs. Henr\' Draper. See page 225. 

cloaks, 1753; and women's fashionable short cloaks, 
1 754. The most popular of all were the capuchin, 
which, as we have already seen, had a hood, and the 
cardinal. The latter was a cloak like a cardinal's which 
the ladies began to wear about i 760. Sometimes they 
were very handsome, being made of buff, black, blue, 
and green figured modes. "^ Frequently we find special 
advertisements of capuchin and cardinal silks of all 
colours. Cardinal fringe and gimp were specially 
made to trim these garments. The cardinal was a 
kind of evening wrap. In 1764, we read : 

* A la mode, a kind of silk. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" Lost out of a sleigh last Tuesday evening, or taken by 
mistake from the Assembly Room, a new figured black satin 
cardinal with spotted black and white fur trimmings. Likewise, 
lost at the ball at Mr. Francis's a plain black satin cardinal 
with figured brown and white fur trimmings, somewhat worn." 

In 1/74, fashionable cloaks were of sage green 
and lio^ht brown trimmed with ermine. 

Among the miscellaneous articles, were fans and 
girdles, 1732; nonesopretties, 1743; bone and coco 
stick fans, fine silver tippets with French flowers, a 
rich silver net shape, cauls, and silk belts, i 750 ; vel- 
vet masks, black patches, and an assortment of fans 
and necklaces, 1751 ; Paris net and catgut pompoons, 
bugles, bugle stomachers, painted bone and ivory 
stick fans and black velvet masks, 1 754 ; enamelled 
snuff and patch-boxes, 1760 ; ivory stick fans and fan- 
mounts, 1 761; china, silver, snuff and patch-boxes, 
1 761; tortoiseshell pocket-books with ivory leaves 
lettered, 1762; muffs and tippets, tortoiseshell, horn 
and ivory combs, black feathers, all sorts of Italian 
and French flowers, velvet collars, Italian head- 
dresses, and plumes and breast flowers, 1767; ostrich 
feathers for riding-hats, Italian breast flowers and 
plumes, great variety of ivory fans, smelling-bottles, 
ivory bodkins, green silk purses, crystal bosom but- 
tons, fringe, black and blue feathers, skeleton and cap 
wire, and fashionable fans, i 769. 

The fans of the period were almost invariably of 
beautiful design. The sticks were of carved wood, 
or ivory ; sometimes they were imported from the 
Orient. The mount was of vellum, silk, gauze, or 
paper, and beautifully painted. Nearly every conceiv- 

224 



The Dress of Women 



able subject was thought ap})roi)riate for its decora- 
tion, from pastorals, fctcs-champStrcs, classical figures, 
mythological fancies, allegorical conceits, emblems, 
scenes from operas and plays, royal marriages, chris- 
tenings, and victories to caricatures and portraits. 
There were also fortune-telling fans, riddle fans, 
calandar fans, etc. Two handsome French fans 
of the time, belonging to Mrs. Henry Draper, are 
shown on page 223 and below. Another, from the 
Museum in Cooper Union, appears on page 263. 




French fan of the period, owned hy Mrs. Henry Draper. See this page. 

Throughout our period, woman was very particular 
about her figure. She felt it necessary to conform 
to the fashionable shape, which, generally speaking, 
w^as a long narrow bodice very tightly laced. Young 
girls and portly matrons alike squeezed themselves 
into the stiff cases of whalebone, or buckram, or some- 
times steel, that could produce the desired form. In 
I 734, stays were extremely low, but fashion decreed 
^^ 225 



Social New York Under the Georges 

that the position of the waist should vary every few 
years, and stays were sometimes worn outside. Stay- 
makers were constantly arriving from London with 
the latest fashions, and every change in shape was 
quickly followed. 

In 1764, "Joseph Beck, staymaker, who served 
his apprenticeship with Mr. Samuel Panton of Dub- 
lin, and for several years wrought with several of the 
most eminent Masters in London and Bath, removes 
to Smith Street, and makes " English, French turn'd 
and Mecklenburg Stays and Jumps, in a new easy 
Method that's now used in London, Children's Coats 
and Slips. Ladies that reside in the Country by send- 
ing their Measure or the Lining of their Stays, may 
depend on having their commands executed with the 
greatest Care and Despatch." A little later, he as- 
sured his patrons that he would "always make it his 
constant Care to have the newest Fashions early from 
London." As a proof that thev did get the newest 
shapes, we may note that in June, 1765 McQueen 
" has a quantity of the newest fashioned diamond cut 
bone stays ; they were made in London since the be- 
ginning of December last." 

\\\ 1767, John McQueen called himself "stay- 
maker, at the Sign of the Stays." He has "a fresh 
assortment of new fashion'd stays, children's pack 
thread stays from one to eight years old, children's 
bone stays from one to twelve vears old, women and 
maids' stays of different sorts and sizes, a few neat 
polished steel collars for Misses, so much worn at the 
boarding schools in London." 

At this date, stays were as tight as ever ; but were 

226 



The Dress of IVomen 



high behind and low before, and the figure was carried 
with a peculiar fall of the shoulders and elevation of 
the bust. Young girls were taught to hold them- 
selves very stiffly, and frequently a long needle was 
stuck uprightly in the front of the dress, so that if 
the head was bent over 



too far, the needle would 
pierce the chin. The 
" steel collars " mentioned 
above were, in all proba- 
bility some device of this 
nature. Much attention 
was paid to the holding 
of the body and the rigid 
attitudes of the portraits 
were not at all uncom- 
mon positions. 

It is noticeable that 
these stay-makers fash- 
ioned children's clothes, 
but did not seem to un- 
dertake anv other outside 




Portrait of Catharine Elmendorph 
( I 747-1 787 ), painted in i 754, 
owned hy Mrs. Wilmot Town- 
send Cox. See this page. 



garments for ladies save jumps, a kind of sleeveless 
coat, and " Mechlinl)urg waistcoats." 

A very interesting child's costume appears on this 
page, in a portrait of Catharine Elmendorph (1747- 
1787) painted in 1754. The dress is brown and the 
stomacher white. 

The bodice was cut to fit tightlv over the stays ; 
and was low both back and front for evening dress, 
and often high in the back and square in the front 
for ordinary dress. Lace, or gauze, ruffles frequently 



22: 



Social New York Under the Georges 

framed in the neck and ornamented the sleeves. An 
excellent idea of a typical dress in George II.'s reign 
appears on page 297. 

The stomacher was an important adjunct to the 
bodice. We find it sometimes of stiff linen like the 
one that Mrs. Vallete wears on page 206. Stomachers 
were of gold and silver ; there were bugle stomachers 
(glass beads) ; white dimothy stomachers ; and many 
others. In front of the bodice was hung the "stay- 
hook " upon which the watch or etui was hung. This 
frequently appears in the jewellers' lists. There were 
also breast-flowers, pompons, crystal bosom-buttons, 
breast-buckles, and many other articles that adorned 
the front of the dress, and very often a bow of ribbon 
was worn, as in the portrait of Mrs. Ray on page 202, 
who is dressed in a sea-green satin gown. This 
portrait was originally in the King Mansion at Ja- 
maica, L. I. Some of Mrs. Ray's silver appears on 
page 138. 



MILLIGAN'S 






^ 


u 


/?-) 





a. 


r^s^yy 


Z 





Sr-^^\ 


> 


1- 


)3r%^ 


Z 




30HS 





*♦ Milligan's Woman's Shoe Store." (1768.) 



228 



IV 

HOOPS AND MANTUA-MAKERS 

From the beginning of the Eighteenth Century 
until 1 789, the most distinguishing feature of woman's 
dress was the hoop. It was so large in Queen Anne's 
time, that no-one could imagine it increasing in size. 
However, despite the caricatures and the protests of 
the satirists, hoops continued to distend. In 1 746, 
Mrs. Delany wrote : " I expect soon to see the other 
extreme of thread paper heads and no hoops, and from 
appearing like so many blown bladders, we shall look 
like so many bodkins stalking about." But Mrs. 
Delany's prophecy was not fulfilled until sixty years 
later. 

The hoop was really a great bell-shaped petticoat, 
or skirt of the dress, stiffened by wdialebone. The 
material was placed directly upon it, so that being a 
part of the gown itself, it was quite correct to speak 
of it as a damask hoop, or a brocade hoop. Of course, 
there were simple petticoats for every-day wear ; but, 
as a rule, the hoop was made of rich flowered brocade, 
silk, satin or velvet. The great expanse of the hoop 
showed off the rich and heavy materials of the day ; 
and certainly the ladies must have made a ball-room 
look very brilliant in these rich clothes. 

It may be interesting to examine some of the 
goods for sale in the Georgian age in New York, re- 

229 



Social New York Under the Georges 




membering that the damask was a rich material that 

came originally from Damascus ; Persian was a thin 

silk much in vogue for linings; taffety, or taffetas, 

also a thin silk, generally changeable ; 

poplin, silk shot with worsted ; 

sarcenet, a thin silk ; lutestring, a 

fine corded silk ; alamode 

(or mode) a plain silk 

something like lutestring ; 

paduasoy, a smooth silk, 

originally made in Padua ; 

ducape, a corded silk ; rus- 

sell, a woollen cloth ; cal- 

limanco, a glazed linen 

11^^^^'^ I* stuff. Certainly the ladies 

of the period had a large 
•^ selection. The articles 

upon the following list ar- 
rived from 1732 to about 
1 769 in increasingly large 
quantities : 

Broadcloths, calliman- 
coes, silk and worsted cam- 
lets, mourning crapes, Eng- 
lish damasks, India damasks, China taffeties, plain, 
striped and flowered Persians, Cherry derries, ginghams, 
grograms, satins, churconnies, Soofeys, Atchabannies, 
mohairs, muslins, fine Spanish cloths, 1732; Venetian 
poplin, allapeen, worsted damask, Indian dimities, mus- 
lins, bandannuses, chelloes, light and cloth coloured 
sarcenet, striped dimity, printed camlets, watered gro- 
gram, worsted damask, i 743 ; striped satins, and silk 

230 



Piece ot wedding-dress ot Mary 
Van Cortlandt, who was mar- 
ried to Peter Jay in 1727 ; 
owned by IVIrs. J. R. Mat- 
thews. See page 235. 



The Dress of Women 



poplin, 1 745 ; Irish silk poplins, satin stripes, silk cords, 
Turkey Tabby, buckrams, silk and cotton gowns, cotton 
Erminetta gowns, white sarcenets, white, black, brown, 
lemon, blue, plumb and pink coloured ^!2 ell and ^U 
wide lutestring, green, blue, and pink coloured Eng- 
lish damask, white watered tabby, black alamodc, blue, 
brown, and black rich paduasoys, white and pink col- 
oured ducapes, fine flowered russells and damasks, fine 
china printed linen gowns, Genoa silks, English dam- 
asks, ducapes, mantuas, striped lutestrings, watered 
and flowered tabby, changeable tafl"eties, brocades, and 
black Persian watered grograms, 1750; lemon col- 
oured paduasoy, 1751 ; yellow paduasoy, green ducape, 
black velv^et, scarlet and Saxon blue flowered damask, 
striped callimancoes, Hungarian stuff, fine striped pop- 
lin, 1752; plain and watered tabby, figured black, 
blue, pink, green, and white peelong satins, i 760 ; rich 
yellow and white satin, 1764; green, blue and pink 
satin, straw-coloured brocade, beautiful striped and 
figured lutestring, satins for cloaks and gowns, pee- 
longs and modes, black and brown peelong, satins, 
figured sarcenets, Saxon green and red naps, brown, 
blue, and scarlet new-fashioned Bath coating, blue 
and scarlet German serges, paduasoy, ducape, lute- 
string, mantua and armozine silks, black, wdiite, drab, 
green, crimson and sky-coloured satins and peelongs, 
flowered satins and figured modes, blue, green, 
brown, drab, Tyrian and pompadour broadcloths, 
crimson Aurora cross -barr'd and plain camlets, a 
variety of figured sarcenets, black and cloth-coloured 
peelong satins, scarlet, blue, green, black, brown and 
mixt broad cloths ; blue cloth for women's wear, scar- 




Oh 



W 



l-J 



CJ ^ 



w 



The Dress of Women 



let, blue, claret colour and grey mixt Bath beaver 
coatings, scarlet and blue silk and worsted cord for 
cloaks ; blue, red, green, yellow, brown and embossed 
serges ; plain Venetian, striped and flowered poplins, 
black taffeties, satin pelong, Persians, taffeties, sarce- 
nets, paduasoy, ducape, lutestring, mantua, armozine 
silk, black, white, drab, green, crimson and sky-col- 
oured satin and peelongs, flowered satins and figured 
modes, and fine moreen, loretto, and silk damask for 
jackets, and Manchester and Genoa velvets, 1769. 

In addition to these beautiful lutestrings, padua- 
soys, alamodes, mantuas etc., the ladies of the Georgian 
court wore much silver and gold brocade and rich 
silks embroidered in gold and silver. In 1739, ^^^ 
Duchess of Bedford had a green paduasoy, heavily 
embroidered in gold and silver ; Lady Dysart, a scar- 
let damask, worked richly with gold ; Lady Percival, 
a white satin, embroidered in gold and silver ; and, in 
1740, Mrs. Delany describes a dress she greatly ad- 
mired, which the Duchess of Oueensberry wore at a 
reception. The material was white satin embroidered : 

"The bottom of the petticoat was brown hills covered 
with all sorts of weeds, and every breadth had an old stump of 
a tree that run up almost to the top of the petticoat, broken 
and ragged, or worked with brown chenille, round which twined 
nasturtiums, ivy, honeysuckles, periwinkles, convolvuluses, and 
all sorts of twining flowers, which spread and covered the petti- 
coat. Vines, with the leaves variegated, as you have seen them 
by the sun, all rather smaller than nature, which makes them 
look very light : the robings and facings were little green banks 
with all sorts of weeds, and the sleeves and the rest of the 
gown loose twining branches of the same sort as those on the 
petticoats: many of the leaves were finished with gold, and part 
of the stumps of the trees looked like the gilding of the sun." 



Social New York Under the Georges 

On the birthday of George II., one of the Prin- 
cesses Royal wore a white paduasoy embroidered 
with gold ; another, a pink damask worked in silver. 




Portion of embroidered lutestring worn by Mrs. William Smith, at a ball 
at Fort George. See below. 

Occasionally, some of these rich materials were seen 
in New York. On this page appears a portion of a 

234 



The Dress of Women 



dress that was worn by Mrs. William Smith (the wife 
of Judge William Smith) at a ball given at Fort 
George in honour of the birth of the prince who 
became George III, The silk is a heavily corded, 
pinkish lilac. It is richly embroidered with wreath- 
ing pink and red roses and bows of ribbon. At 
regular intervals, the three Prince of Wales's feathers 
are heavily worked in silver and raised nearly an 
inch above the silk. The lace in the same illustration 
was worn with the dress. These valuable relics are 
owned by Mrs. W. W. Shippen of New York. 

On page 230 a sim]:)ler piece of brocade is shown. 
This represents red roses with their green leaves and 
buds or seed-pods upon a white ground. It is a 
sample of the wedding dress of Mary \''an Cortlandt, 
daughter of Jacobus Van Cortlandt of Yonkers, who 
was married to Peter Jay in 1727. This belongs to a 
descendant, Mrs. John Rutherford Matthews of \"an 
Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson. Two other 
bits of old brocade, belonging to Mrs. Wilmot Town- 
send Cox and Mrs. French Ensor Chadwick, appear 
on page 273. The former is cherry-coloured, with the 
figure of a white carnation, and belonged to Mrs. 
Henry Bowers. The second, which has been fashioned 
into a reticule, was worn by Mrs. Samuel Jones of 
New York. It is white with gay flowers. 

Later in the century, thin materials sprigged with 
silver were worn. Two old dresses appear on jiagcs 
238 and 242. The first belonged to Mrs. William 
Smith. The other dress was the propertv of Mrs. 
Theodorus Van Wyck Graham of Albany, and is owned 
by her descendant Mrs. C. E. Orvis of New ^'()rk. 

235 



Social New York Under the Georges 

The large flowered brocades were copied in cheaper 
goods, which were also valued. 

The constant succession of attractive goods exhib- 
ited in New York shows how the ladies found one of 
their diversions in shopping. Sidney Breese was one 
of those who always published an attractive advertise- 
ment. He evidently knew just how to appeal to 
feminine taste. He began airily enough in 1761 : 

" Looking-glasses upon Looking-glasses, Pictures upon Pic- 
tures, rich brocades gaily flowered in the newest Taste, flowered 
Tabbies, English Damask, Paduasoys and Ducapes of various 
Colours, rich black, blue, yellow, green, pink, and white pee- 
longs, cardinal silks, striped and plain Lutestrings, changeable 
Mantuas, watered Tabby ribbons, black velvets, gauze hand- 
kerchiefs, India damasks and Taffeties, a large assortment of 
Irish linnen lawns, long lawns, cambricks, worsted hose, broad- 
cloth, M'ith a variety of Persian fashioned carpets." 

Josiah Vavasor, in 1761, sold "black and white 
gauze, gauze caps, ruffs, and handkerchiefs, Roman 
cloaks, round hats of all colours, children's of all sizes. 
Jockey caps and feathers, earrings and necklaces, China 
and silver snuff and patch-boxes, seals, stone buttons 
and buckles, pangs and a variety of the newest Fashion 
ribbands, black, white, buff, blue, green and figured 
modes, ivory stick fans and fan-mounts, all sorts of 
laces, edging, and footings, French trimmings, gimps 
of all kinds, black and white Persian, neat black Bar- 
celona handkerchiefs, purple and black kid gloves and 
mits, silk and worsted mits, children's worsted morocco 
shoes, best black satins and peelongs, chintz and cot- 
tons, and a variety of other goods." 

One ardent shopper acquired fame in i 754 : 

236 



The Dress of Women 



" Last week, a woman named Hannah Davis began to dis- 
play her ingenuity in this city by going into shops and after 
buying a trifle would always give a dollar to change and whilst 
the change was procuring would pick up the dollar, persuade 
the people of the shop she gave it them, and so carry off the 
goods, dollar and change, but being negligent in her business 
was at length detected and publicly whipped for the same. 
This not being sufficient to deter her from following a business 
in which she thought herself so great a proficient, began again 
on Saturday last, in the market, and in changeing her dollar 
with a countryman found means to convey a two shilling piece 
into her mouth, but the man perceiving the fraud, seized her, 
and endeavouring to take the money out of her mouth, she bit 
his fingers in a terrible manner, for which she is now confined 
in gaol." 

Fashionable tailors made ladies riding-habits and 
Josephs, or jackets. Mantua-makers also made all 
sorts of loose garments, cloaks, cardinals, capuchins, 
etc., and sometimes they included a few articles for 
gentlemen. For instance, in 1757: 

" Mary Wallace and Clementia Ferguson, just arrived 
from the kingdom of Ireland, intend to follow the business of 
mantua-making, and have furnished themselves from London 
in patterns of the following kinds of wear for ladies and gentle- 
men and have fixed a correspondence so as to have from thence 
and London the earliest fashions in miniature. They live at 
Mr. Peter Clarke's, within two doors of William Walton's, Esq., 
in the Fly. Ladies and gentlemen that will employ them may 
depend on being expeditiously and reasonably served in mak- 
ing the following articles, that is to say. Sacks, negligees, neg- 
ligee-night-gowns, plain night-gowns, pattanlears, shepherdesses, 
roman cloaks, cardinals, capuchins, dauphnesses, shades lor- 
rains, bonnets and hives." 

The sack, or sacque, was introduced about 1 740, 
and was a wide loose o"own that hunsf from the shoul- 

237 



Social New York Under the Georges 



ders to the orround and was gathered in folds over the 
great hooped petticoat. The night-gown, mentioned 
above, was not the garment that we know by that 
name ; the word was used in the Georgian period for 
evening dress. In 1737, the 
Countess of Shaftesbury re- 
marked that Lady Rane- 
lagh had on at her wedding 
" a straw-coloured night- 
p^own with silver and col- 
ours that was extremely 
pretty, which cost thirty 
shillings a yard." 

The iico/ige^c was a 
loose open gown that be- 
came popular about i 750. 
A London lady lost her 
trunk in 1751, and described 
" a scarlet tabby negligee trimmed 
with orold, a white damask neo-li- 
crie trimmed with a blue 
snail blond lace with a petti- 
coat of the same, and a sil- 
ver brocade iieoiiQ'ee trimmed 
with pink -coloured silk," 

among the contents. The hive was a straw-bonnet 
shaped something like a bee-hive. 

The advertisement on page 237 is further interest- 
ing on account of an item that must not be missed. 
The Fergusons say that they have arranged to get from 
Ireland and London " the earliest fashions in minia- 
ture." At this period and for many years before, it 

238 




.4l; 



Gown sprigged with silver, orig- 
inallv owned bv Mrs. William 
Smith. See page 235. 



The Dress of Women 



had been the custom to dress dolls in Paris in the 
latest style and to send them abroad. In 1727, Lady 
Lansdowne sent to one of Queen Caroline's Ladies 
of the Bedchamber, "a little young lady dressed in 
the Court dress, which I would desire you would show 
to the Queen, and when she has done with it, let Mrs. 
Tempest have it." Mrs. Tempest was a milliner. In 
1763, the famous hair-dresser, Legros, exhibited in 
Paris thirty dolls wearing his latest arrangements of 
coiffure, and in 1765, no fewer than a hundred small 
puppets showed the new fashions in head-dress. 

One cannot fail to notice the constant mention of 
muffs and tippets. Featiier muffs were very fashion- 
able after 1760 and were worn with full dress. Muffs 
were constantly changing in style, and were used by 
men as w^ell as women. An advertisement in this 
year gives us some idea of the luxurious uses of fur. 
John Siemon, who has " new-fashioned muffs and 
tippets " and " fur travelling and sleighing bearskin 
blankets " for sale, trims ladies' robes and riding-habits 
with fur and lines gentlemen's coats, caps and gloves. 
He calls especial attention to his choice black marten 
throat tippets. The tippet must have been in style, 
in I 775, if we may judge from advertisements : " Lost, 
supposed to be between the City Hall and the Bowl- 
ing Green, a lady's tippet of a large size, a dark colour 
and made of martin's tails." Again : " Lost, in or 
near Broadway a lady's tippet made of dark brown 
martin skins." 



2^0 



V 

EXTRAVAGANCE AND ECONOMY 

After having enumerated the various articles of 
costume and toilets and examined the contents of the 
milliners' and mantua-makers' shops, it is very evident 
that the New York woman of fashion differed slightly, 
if at all, from her London prototype. If anything 
more is needed to prove this, we may mention that 
when Anstey wrote his Arw BatJi Guide in 1766, he 
made a list of all the articles that a belle was forced 
to carry with her to that gay watering-place : 

" Bring O bring thy essence-pot, 
Amber, niusl<. and i)ergamot, 
Eau-de-chipre, eau de luce, 
Sans-pareil and citron-juice ; 
Nor thy band-box leave behind, 
Fill'd with stores of every kind ; 
All the enraptur'd bard supposes. 
Who to Fancy, odes composes ; 
All that Fancy's self has feigned, 
In a band-box is contained. 
Printed lawns and checker'd shades. 
Crepe that's worn by love-lorn maids, 
Water'd tabbies, flower'd brocades, 
Violets, pinks, Italian posies, 
Myrtles, jessamin, and roses. 
Aprons, caps, and kerchiefs clean. 
Straw-built hats and bonnets green. 
Catguts, gauzes, tippets, ruffs, 
Fans, and hoods, and feather'd muffs, 
240 



The Dress of IVomen 

Stomachers and paris-nets, 
Ear-rings, necklaces, aigrets, 
Fringes, blonds, and mignionets. 
Fine vermilion for the cheek. 
Velvet patches a la grcqiie." 

Everything included here we have found in the 
shops and on the toilet-tables in New York, and many 
of them long before i 766. The checker'd shades, the 
water'd tabbies, the straw hats, the catgut gauze, the 
ruffs, the tippets, the mignionets, the feathered muffs 
and the ])aint and patches had been familiar for many 
years to the ladies of New York. They dressed for 
the assemblies, balls, routs and card-j)arties with the 
same interest that they did in London, and had no idea 
of being behind the European fashions. Thev flirted 
and ogled and chattered and amused themseh^es with 
trifles after the custom of the Eighteenth Century. 
The letter that " Sally Tippet " wrote to one of the 
newspapers gives an excellent insight into the thoughts 
and ambitions of a fashionable young woman, — for 
young she certainly seems. It will be noticed that 
she scorns "home-bred fashions" and is quite disdain- 
ful of the dressing of many of the New York ladies. 
She is proud to have been the first ever to have 
worn a hat to Trinity Church, and that her mother 
had introduced " the reverent compliment of curtsev- 
ing." Her description of Jenny Petulant's walk is 
worth noting. She gives evidence of tastes that ante- 
date the mcrvcillcuscs bv thirtv years. This letter ap- 
peared in I 761 : 

" Ladies, I cannot indulge any suspicion of your neglect, in 
examining strictly what is now iaid before every tea-board that 
will be held this week, and that by any number of ladies, not 
^7 241 



Social New York Under the Georges 



less than four. My oracles, the mantua maker and milliner — 
have most ungratefully refused either to make or recommend 
a polite dress I intended for the maiden ladies at the expiration 
of mourning, though most exquisitely well calculated to admit 
the cooling zephyrs of a season. 

"I first began to image taste with the short petticoat and 
white stockings, and have ever since been so scrupulous an ob- 
server of it that I never was the mark of a pinking-iron behind 

it. Nothing however looks 
more surfeiting to me than 
your home-bred fashions 
and complements; there is 
something so rustic, so 
Bridget-Norton-like in them, 
which is visible in most of 
our city ladies, that I believe 
the one-half have neither 
milliners, dolls, dressing- 
maids, dancing-masters, nor 
indeed pier-glasses. 

" My design was to have 
appeared the Sunday after 
the 4th. of June next in a 
blue Persian silk long robe, 
without any under-dress. 
Gown of gauze embroidered in silver which I should have called 
and under-dress of white satin, origi- a Spartan fly, because it 
nally owned by Mrs. Theodorus would have been an im- 
Van Wyck Graham of Albany ; now proved pattern of the 
by her descendant, Mrs. C. E. Spartan maidens' garments. 
Orvis. See page 235. These virgins, you must 

know, were obliged by law 
to wear slits or rents in their clothes, to discover the deli- 
cacy of their skins; which was judged to be a great incite- 
ment to matrimony ; for the married women w'ere forbid it. 
But my intent is of quite another nature: it is to let the polite 
public know that, as dress is upon the decline, there is one who 
is able and willing to be an advocate in its behalf. This suit 

2A2 




The Dress of Women 



of mine was to have six furbelowed openings, three upon each 
side. They were to be cut from the shoulders to within a hair's 
breadth of the bottom, to be scolloped and pinked all down 
with an edging around each of green gimp, and every breadth 
flounced between the openings. This most excellent Fly, my 
impertinent mantua-maker has refused making; she says it is 
for my insisting on the rights of Sparta, that she should be 
liable to a penalty if she made one for a married lady. But 
the reason is this, she has got a group of chestnut colour cus- 
tomers, who are flattered so much by her, with the name of 
brown beauties that their heads are quite addled ; and as they 
are pretty numerous, it is not her interest to introduce a fashion 
that will show their tawny skins. So that by the caprice of 
mantua-makers, we whom Nature has brightened with the 
greatest delicacy, must hide all our charms of youth and 
beauty. Oh ! intolerable ! 

" There are yet some things that are more noble than dress. 
These are regular motions in compliments, and well chosen 
forms. — Herein our family may boast precedence with any, for 
in many of the most genteel that are now used at the most ele- 
gant assemblies of fashion, we are originals. For my own part, 
I am the first that ever wore a hat at divine service in Trinity 
Church, for which I quote ancient Jerusalem as a precedent; 
antiquity shall be my plan. As to Mamma, she was something 
more of a Christian than to follow this, but would bring every- 
thing else to church; for that reverent compliment of courtesy- 
ing was first brought in by her, which, to her immortal memory 
has continued (with a few innovations) ever since. 

"But, Oh! could I refine the judgment, or clear the dim 
sight of those pretty Ardelois, who sidel us by the hand to 
church, I could live in peace ever after. Their errors in some 
things are most monstrous; no longer ago than last Sunday, as 
I was coming from church, who should be bouncing me, led by 
Lieutenant Tickle, but the erect figure of that all-of-a-piece 
Jenny Petulant. She was dyed into mourning from a greasy 
yellow, which is as rusty as a flitch of bacon. But to see her 
cross the kennel at the City Hall was killing, her hand was 
stuck out to Mr. Tickle with the same air that Mrs. Puritan 



Social New York Under the Georges 

gives a copper to an itchy beggar ; then up she hoisted, like 
Bacchus rising to bestride his tun, and slammed down again as 
if her foot had split a drum head. Many more of these un- 
couth airs could be mentioned had I room. 

" Hi I ho ! I have no card ladies for the next Assembly. 
Well I I may guess though, Miss Buzz says, the whisper is that 
young Cringe has sent one to Miss Gloss; if it's true, as I fear 
it is, by the name of Phoebus I'll throw in his way these four 
lines of Ovid's that fit her so well : 

" ' Steal to her closet, her close tiring place, 
While she makes up her artificial face; 
All colours of the rainbow you'll discern, — 
Washes and paints and what you're sick to learn.' 

"Yours, yours, yours, 

" Sally Tippet." 

About the end of our period, the following lines 
appeared in the Universal Magazine, ridiculing the 
constant succession of changes in female attire : 

" Now dress'd in a cap, now naked in none ; 
Now loose in a mob, now close in a Joan ; 
Without handkerchief now, and now buried in ruff; 
Now plain as a Quaker, now all in a puff; 
Now a shape in neat stays, now a slattern in jumps ; 
Now high in French heels, now low in your pumps ; 
Now monstrous in hoops, now trapish, and walking 
With your petticoats clung to your heels like a maul kin ; 
Like the cock on the tower, that shows you the weather, 
You are hardly the same for two days together." 

This miorht almost be taken as a review of the 
whole Georgian era. Every slightest change was 
noted in New York. The ladies, as we have seen, 
had their stays cut in the latest fashion, altered the 
shape of the hoop petticoat every now and then ; 
wore a dozen rufifles at their sleeves or none at all ; 
adorned their heads with lappets or discarded these 

244 



The Dress of Women 



for a caj) ; — in short, they made a business of following 
the fashion. In i 754, a local paper publishes the fol- 
lowing : 

" A RI-XEIPT FOR MODERN DRESS 

" Hang a small bugle cap on as big as a crown, 
Snout it off with a flower, viilgo diet, a pompoon ; 
Let your powder be grey, and braid up your hair 
Like the mane of a colt, to be sold at a fair. 
A short pair of jumps half an ell from your chin, 
To make you appear like one just lying in ; 
Before, for your breast, put a 'Stomacher bib on. 
Ragout it with cutlets of silver and ribbon. 
Your neck and your shoulders both naked should be, 
Was it not for Vandyke blown with Chevaux de Frize. 
Let your gown be a sack, blue, yellow, or green. 
And frizzle your elbows with ruffles sixteen ; 
Furl off your lawn aprons with flounces in rows, 
Puff and pucker up knots on your arms and your toes ; 
Make your petticoats short, that a hoop eight yards wide 
May decently show how your garters are tied. 
With fringes of knotting, your dicky cabob 
On slippers of velvet set gold a-la-daube. 
But mount on French heels when you go to a ball, 
'Tis the fashion to totter and shew you can fall ; 
Throw modesty out from your manners and face, 
A-la-mode de Frangois you're a bit for his Grace." 

The following lines also apjiear in i 756 : 

" The dress of the year 55 that was worn 

Is laid in the grave and new fashions are born : 

Then hear what your good correspondents advance, 

'Tis the Pink of the Mode and dated from France : 

Let your cap be a butterfly slightly hung on 

Like the shell of a lapwing just hatch'd on her crown 

Behind, with a coach horse short dock, cut your hair 

Stick a flower before Screw-ivhiff \\\\.\\ an air, 

A Vandicke in frize your neck must surround. 

Turn your lawns into gauze, let your Brussels be blond ; 

Let your stomacher reach from shoulder to shoulder. 

And your breast will appear much fairer and bolder. 

^45 



Social New York Under the Georges 



" Wear a gown or a sack as fancies prevail, 

But with flounces and furbelows ruffle your tail. 

Let your hoop show your stockings and legs to your knees, 

And leave men as little as may be to guess. 

For other small ornaments, do as before, 

Wear ribbons a hundred and ruffles a score ; 

Let your tail, like your dress, be fantastic and odd. 

And then vou'U show a way in taste A-la-»iodc." 

Another for the same year is called 

"THE PETITION 

" Artful painter by this plan 
Draw a female if you can. 
Paint her features bold and gay. 
Casting modesty away ; 
Let her hair the mode express, 
And fantastic be her dress. 
Cock her up a little hat 
Of various colours, this and that ; 
Make her cap the fashion new. 
An inch of gauze or lace will do. 
Cut her hair the shortest dock ; 
Nicely braid the forehead lock ; 
Put her on a negligee, 
A short sack, or shepherdee 
Ruffled up to keep her warm, 
Eight or ten upon an arm. 
Let her hoop extending wide 
Show her garters and her pride. 
Her stockings must be pure and white 
For they are seldom out of sight. 
Let her have a high-heeled shoe, 
And a glittering buckle too. 
Other trifles that you find. 
Make quite careless as her mind. 
Thus equipped, she's charming ware 
For the races or the fair." 

It will be noticed that in the foregoing- verses the 
smallness of the cap was ridiculed. In 1754, a fashion 
journal remarked that the long lappets, the horseshoe 

246 



The Dress of Women 



cap, the Brussels head, and the prudish mob pinned 
under the chin had all had their day. "The present 
mode," it continued, " has 
routed all these superflu- 
ous excrescences and in 
room of a slip of cambric 
or lace has planted a 
whimsical sprig of span- 
gles or artificial flowerets.'' 
Even when the exciting 
days of the Revolution 
were approaching, the 
merchants still offered at- 
tractive goods and the 
ladies were enabled to 
make themselves as at- 
tractive as ever. At the 
beginning of 1775, we 
find the followinsr : 




Portrait ot Cornelia Beekman ( Mrs. 
William Walton, i 708-1 786); 
in possession ot the Beekman 
tamilv. Seepage 255. 



" Henry Wilmot, in Hanover Square, sells (among other 
things) a great variety of ribbons, persians, modes, sarsinets, 
peelong; broad, narrow edging and double edge blond and 
black laces of all prices; minionet, thread, trolly and Dutch 
laces, scarlet and other coloured cloak trimmings, skeleton and 
cap wires, black and other coloured single and double ostrich 
feathers, cambrices clear, flowered and long lawns, dark ground 
and other calicoes and chintzes, breeches patterns, white 
worsted, gauze and cotton hose, almost every sort of fans, 
earrings and necklaces; with many articles in the jewel- 
lery way. Prepared hairs of all sorts and wig-makers trim- 
mings." 

Before dismissing the ladies altogether, we may 
note that while they were luxurious and fond of dress, 

247 



Social New York Under the Georges 

thev were also economical. They understood the use 
of the needle and were not averse to repairing, patch- 
ing, darning and remodelling old garments. Even if 
they kept up with new fashions, they wore their clothes 
carefully and frequently handed them down to the 
next generation. Some women actually made a busi- 
ness of repairing. Thus 

(Dec. 4, 1749.) "Elizabeth Boyd is removed to Bayard's 
Street, near Mr. Cruger's, where she follows as usual new graft- 
ing and footing all sorts of stockings, making and mending of 
silk gloves, mittens, muftees, and making childern's stockings, 
and plain work. Likewise if any young lady has a mind to 
learn for the benefit of their own family, they may, in a short 
time, for a reasonable price." 

Two years later, she was next door to the Widow 
Hogs, near the Long Bridge, where she " continues 
to graft pieces in knit Jackets and Breeches, not to 
be discerned, also to o-raft and foot stocking's, and 
Gentlemen's gloves. Mittens or Muffatees made out 
of old stockings, or runs them in the Heels ; She 
likewise makes children's stockings out of old ones." 
Muffatees were, of course, for the wrists. 

Ladies, probably, did the most of their repairing 
themselves. If they wanted to wash their laces or 
any other cherished ai'ticles, they could procure from 
Hugh Gaine some very fine crown soap which he 
imported and sold. This was specially recommended 
for the washing of fine linen, muslin, silk, lace, chintz, 
calico, and for the use of barbers. 

There were also manv cleaners, scourers and dyers 
that the ladies patronized, taking to them not only 
their garments, but bed-curtains and hangings and 

248 



The Dress of Women 



various household furnishings. One of the most im- 
portant of these in 1750 was thus announced : 

" Tliomas Davis, Dry Scourer from London, now lives at 
the house of Mr. Benjamin Leigh, School Master in Bridge 
Street, near the Long Bridge where he cleans all sorts of Gentle- 
men and Ladies Cloaths, Gold and Silver Lace, Brocades and 
embroidered work, Points d' Espagne, Cuffs and Robings,. 
wrought Beds, hangings and tapestry, flowered velvets and 
chints without hurting their flowers, at a reasonable rate." 




"Peter Hulick, stay-maker." (1774.) 



249 



VI 

JEWELRY AND ORNAMENTS 

Ix manv inventories of well-to-do New Yorkers, 
one or two jewels are mentioned. Nearly every- 
hodv owned a gold or silver watch. A chain of 
pearls and a few diamond rings were not uncommon 
possessions. We even find Captain Smith (1709) 
with an " instrument to try pearls," which certainly 
looks as if he tested them before he bought or sold 
them. Captain Giles Shelly (1718) owned much 
jewelrv and a mother-of-pearl box. He had a pearl 
necklace, a gold chain and pendants, eight gold beads, 
one amber and three red bead necklaces, a parcel of 
stones and beads, a piece of coral, a string of pearls, 
six gold pins with pearl heads, two India gold chains, 
six gold rings, two silver rings, twelve gold rings with 
stones, one agate seal, and part of a collar. 

A few advertisements of different dates will give 
an idea not only of the kind of gems that people were 
wearing in these days, but how they were actually 
set. In 1734, somebody had "Lately lost a gold 
girdle buckle set around with small diamonds." The 
following is verv explicit : 

(Nov. 27, 1749.) " Lost on Thursday evening last at or 
going from the house of Mr. Ramsey, an earring the upper part 
whereof is in shape of a knot, set with small diamonds, and the 
lower part a drop with a diamond in the middle and some dia- 
mond sparks round. Two pistoles reward." 

250 



The Dress of Women 



This must have been a handsome jewel, for the 
reward was generous. A larger reward was offered, 
however, in 1757, by Mr. Naphtaly Hart Myers who 
was willing to give five pistoles reward for his lost 





k 



■^ 




^t^i^iy 





KJ 



Lorgnette, seal rings and watches owned bv Angelica Schiivler Church ; 
now by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Church. See page 254. 

** Hoop Ring set round with Diamonds." Two other 
advertisements of 1761 and 1762 read: 

*' Lost, a Diamond Rin.s:, on which is a Heart and Crown, 
both Diamonds. Whoever has found the same and will bring 
it to the Printer hereof, shall have forty shillings reward." 

" Stolen out of a House near Ellis's Dock on Friday night, 
being the 5th of February, one Diamond Ring with seven Dia- 

2;i 



Social New York Under the Georges 



monds, three large and four small ; one Diamond in most the 
shape of a Flower Pot ; one Ring with four Diamonds and a 
flat stone with a little Hair under ; one Diamond Girdle Buckle 
with about thirty or thirty-two Stones; one plain gold Ring, 
maker's name, P V B, and ^12 in cash." 

The three most important jewellers of New York 
seem to have been Peter Lorin, Charles Dutens and 
Charles Oliver Bruff. The first appears in i 749, when 
he announees : 

" Peter Lorin from London sets after the neatest and new- 
est fashions, all sorts of jewels, rings, solitiars, lockets, seals 
etc. He has to dispose, sundry diamonds, rings, a parcel of 
the best pastes in earrings and aigrettes. He intends to make 
a short stay in this place." 

He evidently remained longer than he had pur- 
posed, for in the following year he advertises that he 
" sets after the neatest and newest fashions all sorts 
of Jewels, Rings, Ear-rings, Solitaires, Lockets, Ai- 
grettes, Stay-Hooks, Seals, as also Diamonds, Rubies, 
Emeralds, Saphires, or any other kind of Stones, to 
the best Advantage, at very reasonable Rates." 

Charles Dutens announced in 1751 : 

" Gentlemen and Ladies who want any Diamond Rings, 
Mourning, Fancy, Enamell'd or Motto do., Stone Buttons set 
in Gold, Ear-Rings, Solitairs, Stay-Hooks, Seals or Lockets, 
may be faithfully served in the cheapest manner by Charles 
Dutens at Mrs. Eastham's, near the Long Bridge. He also sets 
Rubies, Saphires, Diamonds, Emeralds, or any other kind of 
Stones after the Newest Fashion to the best Advantage." A 
little later in the same year, he " makes Hoop Rings set all 
round, likewise Fancy Rose and all sorts of Rings etc. He has 
some beautiful Stones fit for Gentlemen's waistcoats for the 
Season; likewise a small parcel of Diamonds and Emeralds fit 
for Ear-rings or Rings." 

2C2 



The Dress of Women 



We find Mr. Bruff in New York from 1763 until 
1776, constantly tempting both sexes. In the first 
named year he appeared with the following- : 

" Charles Oliver Bruff, goldsmith and jeweller, at the sign 
of the Tea-pot and Tankard, in Maiden Lane, near the Fly 
Market, having employed a Jeweller from London who under- 
stands making or mending any kind of diamond or enamell'd 
work in the jewelry way. Also makes and mends all manner 
of stone buckles, stone rings, earrings, broaches, seals, solitairs, 
hair jewels, lockets, enamell'd. Makes all manner of sleeve 
buttons, mourning rings of all sorts, trinkets for ladies, plats 
hair in a curious manner in true lovers' knots for buttons, rings 
or lockets, plain or enamell'd, gold necklaces or stone of all 
sorts. Said Bruff makes all sorts of silversmiths' work, mends 
old work in that way, and has put himself to a great expense 
in sending to London for diamonds and all manner of precious 
stones, and he hopes for the encouragement of the Gentlemen 
and Ladies of this City, as he will study to use them well." 

When we take leave of him in 1775, we find that 
his sign was the Tea-Pot, Tankard and Ear-ring 
although he still lived in Maiden Lane and Crown 
Street. He had added the art of the lapidary, and it is 
very interesting to note the kind of emblems and sub- 
jects people like for their seals, rings and other trinkets. 
It would seem too that working in hair was a new 
fashion. But let us allow him to speak for himself : 

" Charles Oliver Bruff at the sign of the Tea-Pot, Tankard 
and Ear-ring, between Maiden Lane and Crown Street, near 
Fly Market, makes and mends all kinds of diamond or enamelled 
work in the jewellery way ; also all manner of stone buckles, 
solitaires, hair jewels, lockets, enamelled sleeve buttons, mourn- 
ing rings of all sorts, trinkets for ladies, rings and lockets, plain 
or enamelled ; gold necklaces and stones of all sorts. Like- 
wise makes and mends all sorts of silversmith's work ; also 
ladies' fans neatly mended. He gives the highest price for old 

253 



Social New York Under the Georges 

gold silver and jewels; buys rough coral, handsome pebbles 
and black cornelian, fit for seal stones. He has fitted a lapi- 
dary mill up where he cuts all sorts of stones, engraves all sorts 
of coins, crests, cyphers, heads and fancies, in the neatest 
manner and greatest expedition, with the heads of Lord Chat- 
ham, Shakespeare, Milton, Newton, Pope, Homer, Socrates, 
Hannibal, Marc Anthony, Caesar, Plato, Jupiter, Apollo, Nep- 
tune, Mars, Cleopatra, Diana, Flora, Venus, Marcelania, Masons 
arms, with all emblems of Liberty; Cupid fancies, hearts and 
doves neatly engraved for ladies' trinkets; likewise silver and 
steel seals. He also plaits hair in the neatest manner. N. B. 
Takes likenesses off in hair as natural as possible, as to the 
form of visages, works hair in sprigs, birds, figures, cyphers, 
crests and cupid fancies." 

Mr. Naphtaly Hart Myers, who lost his Hoop ring 
in 1757, was a dealer who made periodical trips to 
Europe. In 1764, he offered for sale "a sett of 
jewels, consisting of a pair of three drop diamond 
earrings, Egrat, Salatair, Hoop and other Rings." 

A vast amount of paste was also worn. Paste 
glittered everywhere from the aigrettes in the coiffure 
to the buckle on the shoe. 

On pages 191 and 256 is shown specimen jewelry 
of the time. Page 191 shows some shoe, stock and 
knee-buckles of gold and silver. These are arranged 
to show the obverse of each pair. On the same il- 
lustration are chatelaines, watches and buttons. Two 
more watches with other articles appear on page 
251. Page 256 shows a collection of brooches, ear- 
rings, rings, pendants, two necklaces and a bracelet of 
brilliants or luarqiiisatc, known as paste. 

Turning now to the importations of jewelry, we 
may note French necklaces, sleeve-buttons and New 
York pattern buckles, in i 743 ; scarf-buttons, in i 745 ; 

254 



77?^" Dress of Women 




watches and earrings of various sorts, in 1747; silver 
girdles, necklaces, silver set sleeve and waistcoat but- 
tons, and breast and shirt metal buttons, in 1 750 ; 
breast-buckles, the most fashionable earrings, neck- 
laces, and bracelets, in 1 760 ; shoe, knee, stock and 
girdle-buckles, amber and garnet necklaces, silver 
pinchbeck watches and 
seals, paste set and jap'd 
hair pins, elegant paste 
and double gilt shoe 
and knee buckles, and 
paste and mock garnet 
necklaces and earrings, 
and French, India and 
pearl necklaces and ear- 
rings, 1767; very neat 
paste set tortoise-shell 
combs, paste shoe and 
knee buckles, paste gar- 
net jet, wax and pearl necklaces and earrings, stone 
sleeve-buttons and carnelian and paste seals, pearl neck- 
laces, necklaces and black beads, stone sleeve-buttons 
set in silver, paste earrings, mock garnets, stone-set hair 
pins, coral bells, rings for necklaces, and crystal bosom 
buttons, 1 769. One of the ordinary necklaces of the 
day appears on this page. It is of imitation opal and 
diamonds. A handsome pearl necklace and earrings 
are worn by Cornelia Beekman on page 247. 

Sleeve-buttons were somewhat uncommon, on 
account of the enormous amount of lace ruffles worn. 
A few have occurred in the above importations, and 
the following loss was published in 1733 : 

255 



Set ot je\velr\' ouned bv Mrs. W. 
Sherwood Popham. See this page. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" Lost between Bowery Lane and Greenwich, a Pair of 
Gold Sleeve Buttons. Whoever shall find said Buttons and 




Paste and marquisate necklaces, bracelet, earrings, brooches and rings ; 
originals in the Museum for the Art of Decoration, Cooper Union. 
See page 254. 

bring them to Mr. Todd, next door to the Coffee House in New 
York, shall have a sufficient reward." 

256 



PART VI 
AMUSEMENTS 



i8 



PART VI 
AMUSEMENTS 



OUTDOOR SPORTS 

At all seasons of the year, the New Yorker was 
fond of both outdoor and indoor amusements. The 
traditional sour-visaged Puritan would have been out 
of place here. There was singing-, dancing and feast- 
ing all the year round. In the winter there was shoot- 
ing, skating and sleighing. In 1704, Madame Knight 
noticed the pleasure-loving character of the town : 

"They are not strict in keeping the Sabbath as in Boston 
and other places where I had been. . . . They are sociable to 
one another, and courteous and civil to strangers and fare well 
in their houses. . . . Their diversion in the winter is riding 
sleys about three miles out of town, where they have houses of 
entertainment at a place called the Bowery ; and some go to 
friends' houses, who handsomely treat them. Mr. Borroughs 
carry 'd his spouse and daughter and myself out to one Madame 
Dowe's, a gentlewoman that lived at a farm-house who gave us 
entertainment of five or six dishes, and choice beer and me- 
thegolin, cyder, etc. all which she said was the product of her 
farm. 

" I believe we met fifty or sixty sleys that day; they fly 
with great swiftness, and some are so furious that they'll 
turn out of the path for none but a loaden cart. Nor do they 
spare for any diversion the place affords, and sociable to a 

259 



Social New York Under the Georges 



degree, theyr tables being as free to their neighbours as to 
themselves." 

The absence of anything approaching asceticism 
in the character of the community as a whole became 
still more marked as wealth increased. Deep drink- 
ing and gambling both were very prevalent. Men of 
all classes celebrated the New Year with revelry which 
sometimes terminated tragically. It was difficult to 
stop gambling. In 1742, it was declared that gaming 
at taverns and other public-houses for money or strong 
liquors had by fatal experience been 
found to be attended with many 
evil consequences not only by 
violating and corrupting the 
manners of the people, encour- 
aging them to idleness, deceit and 
many other immoralities, but that 
it had a manifest tendency to the 
ruin of many. It was therefore en- 
acted that if any innkeeper should 




Silver bowl original 
ly owned by Dr 
Samuel Johnson 

now by Mr. and thcnccforth keep any billiard-table, 
Mrs. William E. ^j-^^^k-table, or shufflcboard-table, and 

V er Planck. See . 

28c permit anybody to game by day or 

night, he should be fined twenty 
shillings for each offence. He was also to be fined 
£1 if he allowed any youths under the age of 21, or 
any apprentice, journeyman, servant, or common sailor 
to gamble with dice or cards. Thus gambling was 
reserved for merchants and the gentry. 

Lotteries, when properly authorized, were scarcely 
recognized as a form of gambling. They were used 
for all sorts of purposes, such as building gaols, hos- 

260 



Amusements 



pitals, colleges and churches, and for disposing of real 
estate. When, however, people began to multiply 
lotteries for individual jirofit, laws were made to stop 
them. In 1747, an Act against private lotteries was 
passed to remedy the " pernicious consequences to 
the public by encouraging numbers of labouring 
people to assemble at taverns where such lotteries are 
usually set on foot and drawn." Ai a lottery in 1765 
some of the prizes were : curious silver coffee-pots, 
tankards, pint mugs, sauce-boats, punch-strainers, curi- 
ous chiming table clocks, gold rings, gold rings set 
with diamonds, snuff-boxes, beautiful French fans, 
shoe and knee-buckles, silk umbrellas, and a library of 
books, including Swift, Pope, Addison, Shakespeare, 
Gay, Smollett, Hume, Steele and Lady Montagu's 
Letters of Travel. 

Shooting was a favourite sport, and there was 
plenty of game at hand. We have already seen that 
for a long time it was customary for people to shoot 
over other men's land. Deer were scarce in the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of the city, but plentiful on Long 
Island. In 1706, an Act to preserve deer made a 
close season from January i to August i, in Suffolk, 
Queens, Kings, W^estchester and Richmond. 

Fatal accidents due to carelessness or defective 
sight, when one hunter mistook another for the game, 
were as common then as now. These were sometimes 
reported rather flippantly. 

One of these, in i 734, reads : 

"We hear that on Tuesday last one Reynier Sickelse, at 
Gravesend on Long Island, being out a Hunting and by Chance 
espied a Fox, which he pursued, and after some time thought 

261 



Social New York Under the Georges 

he saw the Fox, behind some Bushes, and Fired at it; but when 
he came to the Place (without doubt to his great amazement) 
he found that he had shot a Woman who was busy gathering 
some Berries. The fatal mistake was occasioned by her wear- 
ing an Orange Brown A\'ast-Coat. The Man is in a very melan- 
choly condition." 

Another reads (1754) : 

"A melancholy affair happened near this City. One Jacob 
Kool, in his rounds a gunning, noticed something moving in a 
thicket of bushes and not readily distinguishing the object, 
imagined it to be a bear; and having no bullets about him, 
withdrew to a neighbouring house and requested a number, 
telling the people there was such a beast at a small distance. 
Upon this two of the inhabitants, one Johan Baltas Dash, and 
a negro man, taking down their pieces, they all three loaded 
with balls, and coming near the thicket, Kool discharged his 
gun into the middle of it, as did likewise the others, when hear- 
ing a groan and seeing the motion of a man's leg, they found 
their mistake. It afterwards proved to be the body of Mr. Cor- 
nelius Vonk of this City, who w'alking out to refresh himself, 
laid down under the thicket to rest, where, it is supposed, he 
fell asleep. The Jury brought in their verdict Chance medley. 
(Short-sighted persons are not lit to go a gunning; they there- 
fore would do well to go to Ohio, where, as they can't see 
distinctly, they may kill as many Frenchmen as they please 
instead of bears.) " 

There was great complaint in 1759 that it was 
unsafe to walk in Mr. Bayard's woods on account of 
the fowling there. 

Game preserves were kept by some of the gentry, 
as has already appeared in the case of Governor Cosby. 
The close seasons established for various kinds of 
game point to a desire to maintain good sport. Ad- 
ditional evidence of this occurred during the severe 

262 




Court sword, canes, book- and letter-cases, pocket-books, silver card- 
tray, knife and fork, and fan ; from the Museum tor the Art of 
Decoration, Cooper Union. See pages 195 and 225. 



Social New York Under the Georges 



winter of 1764-5 when the mercury fell to 35° below 
zero. On January 31st, w^e learn : 

" The late severe weather having destroyed great numbers 
of small birds and seeming to threaten an extinction of the 
species of several sorts, at least for some years to come in 
these parts, especially quails, we hear several gentlemen have 
caught and purchased considerable numbers of them which they 
keep in cages properly sheltered from the cold, and feed, in 
order to set them at liberty in the Spring to preserve the 
breed." 

Besides game-preserves, some of the rich gentry 
had deer-parks. In 1749, John Schuyler advertised : 

" Whereas some persons have of late entered the park of 
the Subscriber, on New Barbadoes Neck, in the County of 
Bergen, and have there shot and killed some of my deer in said 
park. These are therefore to forbid all persons to enter into 
said park, or to carry a musket or firelock on any of my en- 
closed lands or meadows without my leave first obtained for 
so doing under the penalty of being prosecuted with the utmost 
rigour of the law." 

Mr. Schuyler offered £^ for evidence of anyone 
having killed his deer. Good marksmanship was cul- 
tivated in New York, even as it was on the frontier. 
Sometimes a shooting-match was held in the form of 
a sweepstakes, the prize being some object of value 
instead of money. On one occasion the prize was a 
house and lot; on another, a gold watch. In 1734, 
we read "To be shot for, a lot of land 37 ft. 6 in. 
broad in Sacket's Street. April 7th, 8th, 9th, loth 
(Easter) one ball at 100 yards, at the Sign of the 
Marlborough Head in Bowery Lane, 5 sh per shot, 
best shot in the four days to have the lot." One of 
these advertisements gave an unusually minute de- 

264 



Amusemenis 



scription of a fashionable piece of furniture of the 
day (1753) : 

"To be shot for on the 22d of January next, a good ma- 
hogany chest of drawers, with eagles' claw feet, a shell on each 
knee and fluted corners, with good brass work and locks. 
Those that intend to try their fortune for the same, may apply 
to Mr. George Peters in Broad Street, where they may see the 
above. There will be twenty chances at 14/- each chance." 

Boating and fisiiino; were largely indulged in. 
Pleasure boats were at the wharves of every country 
seat that had a water-front. In 1732, Gov. Mont- 
ofomerie's " fine larQ-e barg-e, with awnino- and damask 
curtains " was sold at public vendue. In i 736, Captain 
Rickets's Pleasure Boat was to be sold (being very 
well fitted). " The yacht or Pleasure Boat belonging 
to Captain Roddam, with good sails, rigging," etc., was 
offered for sale at Mr. Ackland's Coffee House in i 75 i. 

Out-of-door games were extensively played on the 
Common and other open spaces in the city, as well 
as outside its limits. Bowls was played in many a 
garden as well as on its special green near the Fort. 
Golf was no stranger to officers and gentry. In 1729, 
Governor Burnet's inventory mentions " Nine gouff 
clubs, one iron ditto and seven dozen balls." This 
governor was an enthusiastic sportsman. He owned 
five cases of foils, an e.xtra one, three fowling-pieces 
and a cane fishing-rod. Other games were fives, ten- 
nis and cricket. In 1766 "James Rivington imported 
battledores and shuttlecocks, cricket-balls, pillets, best 
racquets for tennis and fives, backgammon tables with 
men, boxes and dice." Cards were imported in enor- 
mous quantities. 

265 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Besides sea-fishing, the rod and fly afforded exer- 
cise and enjoyment. Sea-bathing also had its votaries. 
In 1760, an advertisement read: "A cold Bathing- 
house opposite to Mr. Nicholas Roosevelt, at the 
North River, is kept in order for the use of gentle- 
men or ladies by Abraham Fincher, who takes care 
to have the water let in every tide and has it conve- 
nient for use from half flood to half ebb." In 1769, 
a cork-cutter named Jarvis Roebuck, who lived at the 
foot of Pot Baker's Hill and also " sold all sorts of 




Brass hearth turniture, owned by Mrs. Edward Parke Custis Lewis. 
See page 162. 

cork and corks," informed the public that he had 
"cork jackets of different prices for swimming, which 
has saved many from drowning." 

Cockfighting was a popular pastime. Silver and 
steel spurs were on sale in many stores. " \^ery good 
cocks " were to be procured at the sign of the Fight- 

266 



Amusements 



ine Cocks near the Gentleman's Coffee House. The 
less fashionable Dog's Head in the Porridge Pot also 
supj)licd them. Bull-baiting was one of the joyous 
sports patronized by the gentry. Bulls were baited 
on Bayard's Plill at the fresh-water pumj). In 1774, 
" John Cornell, near St. Georo^e's P^errv, Lone: Island, 
gave j)ublic notice that there would be a bull baited 
on Tower Hill at three i>. m. every Thursday during 
the season." (See page 271.) 

The Long Island plains afforded splendid runs for 
foxhounds, and in the Autumn, when the fields had 
been reaped, packs had the right to hunt over them. 
The hounds often met in Bergen Woods also. 

The English love of horseflesh early displayed it- 
self here. Colonel Nicholls, the first English gover- 
nor, ordered that a stake should be run for on the 
present site of Garden City, which was then known as 
Salisbury Plain. This plain, sixteen miles in length 
and four in breadth, was covered with fine turf and 
entirely destitute of trees. From its resemblance to 
Newmarket Heath, the course was called Newmarket, 
and the first race was run there about 1666. From 
1670, there were two race-meetings a year till 1775, 
and these were attended by the gentry of New York 
and New England. There were several other courses 
on Long Island, particularly one around Beaver Pond, 
Jamaica. The value of the |)late varied. Two ex- 
amples will suffice : 

" On Monday last ended the races round PJeaver Pond near 
Jamaica, L. I., for a purse of ^^12, which was won by a gelding 
from Maryland belonging to Mr. John Combes of Jamaica." 
(June 3, 1755.) 

267 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" N. Y. Freemason Purse of ^loo to be run for around the 
Beaver Pond at Jamaica, L. I., best 2 of 3 heats, each heat 3 
times round the pond — whole bred English only excepted." 
(Apr. 23rd, 1763.) 

To improve the native breed, the very best foreign 
blood was imported, and before long there was great 
rivalry between English and American horses. In 
1764, at the Newmarket races, the /50 purse was run 
for by Mr. Smith's bay horse Hero, Mr. Thome's grey 
horse Starling, and Mr. Leary's bay horse Old Eng- 
land, all bred in and imported from England. Star- 
ling won first and second heat, successively, winning 
the purse. The keenness of the rivalry between the 
native and foreign stock may be seen in the following 
notice that appeared May 16, 1768 : 

"The Hundred Pounds purse at Upper Marlborough, has 
been won by r3r. Hamilton's English horse Figure, beating the, 
hitherto, terrific Salem. As many incidents occur in a four mile 
heat, and we have no particulars of the sport, it is but justice 
to the gallant American that the public should suspend its de- 
cisive opinion until the champions have met at Philadelphia, 
next October; when the vanquished may recover, or the victor 
be confirmed in the triumphant post which, to the astonishment 
of thousands, he has so successfully contended for. Figure 
was got by a beautiful horse of that name, the property of the 
Duke of Hamilton ; ran five times in England and won one 
plate; he also started two years ago against five horses at 
Annapolis and beat them in four fine heats. Salem, a grandson 
of Ciodolphin Arabian, and got by Governor Sharp's valiant 
Othello, has run about nine times, and till this event proved in 
every dispute unconquerable. The gentlemen of Philadelphia 
have raised a purse of jz^ioo and two of jQ'^o each, to be run 
for over their course in the Fall. The particulars adapted to 
the late increase of fine horses in the Northern Colonies will be 
advertised very soon." 

268 



Amusements 



Some of these events attracted great crowds. In 
June, 1750, we are told : " Last Friday a great horse 
race was run at Hempstead Plains for a considerable 
wager, which engaged the attention of so many of 
this city that upwards of seventy chairs and chaises 
were carried over the ferry from hence the day before, 
besides a far greater number of horses, and it was 
thought that the number of horses in the plains at the 
race far exceeded a thousand." The New York sport- 
ing men, however, were not content to go only to those 
places. Courses were often improvised on Manhattan 
Island, and even within the city itself. In 1736, it 
was announced : 

"On Wed. Oct. 13, next, will be run for on the course at 
N. Y. a plate of ^20 value, by any horse, mare or gelding, 
carrying 10 stone (saddle and bridle included) the best of three 
heats, two miles each heat. Horses intended to run for this 
plate are to be entered the day before the race with Francis 
Child, on Fresh Water Hill, paying a half pistole each, or at 
the post on the day of running, paying a pistole. And the next 
day will be run for on the same course, by all or any of the 
horses that started for the ^£20 plate (the winning horse ex- 
cepted) ; the entrance money on the condition above. Proper 
judges will be named to determine any disputes that may arise. 
All persons on horseback or in chaises coming into the field 
(the subscribers and winning horses only excepted) are to pay 
6d. each to the owner of the ground." 

There was a beautiful race-course on the Lispenard 
meadows in Greenwich village, near the seats of Sir 
Peter Warren, Abraham Mortier, William Bayard and 
James Tauncey, Another private track belonging to 
the De Lanceys was on First and Second Streets 
fronting the Bowery. Here were held many trials of 
speed. Sometimes trials were held on the public 

269 



Social New York Under the Georges 

roads. One of these is noticed on April 29, 1 754 : 
" Tuesday morning last a considerable sum was de- 
pending between a number of gentlemen in this city 
on a horse starting from one of the gates of the city 




Silver candlesticks owned bv Frederic ). de Pevster, Esq. 
See page 143. 



to go to Kingsbridge and back again, being fourteen 
measured miles (each way) in two hours time ; which 
he performed with one rider in i hr. and 46 min." 

This horse belonged to Oliver De Lancey, who 
was one of the most enthusiastic patrons of the turf 
in that day. The De Lanceys and Morrises spent 
large sums on their studs and owned many famous 
horses. Other owners and breeders included General 
Monckton, Anthony Rutgers, Timothy Cornell, Roper 
Dawson, the Earl of Stirling, Captain Heard, Israel 
Waters, and the Cornells of Long Island. Racing 
was not confined to those who could keep regu- 
lar training stables. There were opportunities for 

270 



Amufements 



small farmers and tradesmen to test many of their 
horses. 

The sporting gentry of New York thronged not 
only to their own and the Long Island courses, hut 
to Powles Hook, Perth Amhoy, and Elizabethtown. 
In 1774, the Continental Congress suppressed this 
kind of sport when Article 8 agreed to " discounte- 
nance and discourage every species of extravagance and 
dissipation, especially all horse-racing and all kinds of 
gaming, cock-tighting, exhibitions of shows, plays and 
other expensive diversions and entertainments." 




"Bull-baiting, John Cornell, near St. (jeorge's Ferry, 
Long Island." (1774. j 



271 



II 

THEATRES 

In New York in the time of the Georijes, manv 
inhabitants were strongly opposed to theatrical en- 
tertainments. The earliest newspaper notice of a 
theatre occurs in 1733, when George Talbot sold fur- 
niture " next door to the Playhouse." The first com- 
pany of which we have any knowledge arrived at the 
beginning of 1750. On Feb. 26th we read : 

" Last week arrived here a company of comedians from 
Philadelphia, who we hear have taken a convenient room for 
their purpose in one of the buildings lately belonging to the 
Hon. Rip Van Dam, Esq., deceased, \\\ Nassau Street, where 
they intend to perform as long as the season lasts, provided 
that they meet with suitable encouragement." 

These comedians gave entertainments till the end 
of July and began again on Sept. 13. The first play 
presented was Colley Gibber's version of Shake- 
speare's RicJiard III. The managers thought it neces- 
sary to inform the public what the play was about. 
" In this play," they said, " is contained the death of 
King Henry \^I. ; the artful acquisition of the Crown 
by Richard III., the landing at Milford Haven of 
Henry \"II. and the Battle at Bosworth Field." 

At that date, no distinction was made between the 
lyric and dramatic stage. Members of a stock com- 
pany were necessarily versatile. This company per- 

272 



Amusements 



formed tragedies, comedies, farces and ballad-operas. 
Between the acts of the various plays, songs and 
dances were introduced, with costume in character. 

Then people read plays as literature. The libretto 
of the last stage success was as eagerly bought as the 
latest novel. We shall see on page 387 how the 
fashionable young lady was well acquainted with the 
contemporary stage. If the company wanted to pro- 




Silver and other articles, originally owned by the Duane, Jones and 
Bowers families ; now by Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox and 
Mrs. French Ensor Chad wick. See pages 152 and 335. 

duce a play of which they had no libretto, they could 
be reasonably sure that they could borrow it from 
somebody here. They advertised in May 1751 : "If 
any Gentleman or Lady has the Farce call'd TJic 
Iiiti'iguing Cliaiubcrniaid, and will lend it awhile to 
the Players, it will be thankfully acknowledged." 

Some of these plays were of a nature to scandalize 

minds not necessarily puritanical. To-day, some of 

them would l)e quite unplayable. Even persons who 

were not at all squeamish generally preferred the 

19 273 



Social New York Under the Georges 

purer atmosphere of tragedies. The followino^ para- 
graph was printed in September, 1750: 

"Thursday evening last, the tragedy of Cafo was played at 
the theatre in this city, before a very numerous audience, the 
greater part of whom were of opinion that it was pretty well 
performed. As it was the fullest assembly that has appeared 
in that house, it may serve to j^rove that the taste of this place 
is not so much vitiated, or lost to a sense of liberty, but that 
they can prefer a representation of virtue to those of a loose 
character." 

In England at this date, players were generally 
regarded as vagabonds. This company now visiting 
New York had practically been treated as such in 
Philadelphia. Two actors who were also the mana- 
gers were Messrs. Murray and Kean. The names of 
the other members were : Tremain, Woodham, Jago, 
Scott, Leigh, Smith, Moore, Marks, Master Murray, 
Miss Osborn, Miss Nancy George, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. 
Osborn, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Leigh. The following 
notes show that the social standing of these players 
was not very high : 

[April 22nd, 1751], "Mr. Kean, by the advice of several 
gentlemen in town who are his friends, having resolved to quit 
the stage and follow his em[)loyment of writing (wherein he hopes 
for encouragement) will take a benefit, playing RicliarJ 1 1 1 ."' 

[June loth], Mr. Jago "humbly hopes that all ladies and 
gentlemen will be so kind as to favour him with their company 
as he never had a benefit before, and is just out of prison." 

[June 13], " Mrs. Davis hopes as the play is granted her 
to enable her to buy off her time, that the ladies and gentlemen 
who are charitably inclined will favour her benefit, and their 
humble petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray." 

[June 17th], " 'Tis the first time this poor widow (Osborn) 
has had a benefit." 

[Aug. 26th], "John Tremain having declined the stage> 

-74 



Amusements 



proposes to follow his business of cabinet-maker." (He re- 
turned to the boards a few months later.) 

The venture of these players was not a sucecss 
peeuniarily. The phiyers had to resort to benefits in 
consequence. Poor Mr. Jago's offence was probably 
nothing more serious than debt. It was perhaps a 
similar danger of jail that 
drove Mr. Kean and Mr, 
Tremain back to their ordmarv 
vocations, Mrs. Davis evi- 
dently belonged to that class 
of Redemptionists who were 
practicallv slaves for a certain 
number of years. Perhaps her 
master had hired out .her tal- 
ents to the company, just as 
it was customary to do with 
servants and craftsmen. Mr. 




Kean's benefit was pfiven on 



Silver tea-pot originally owned 
hv Dr. Samuel fohnson, 
now hv Mr. and Mrs. 
William E. Ver Planck. 
See page i 50. 



Jan. 14, 1731. The play was 

The Jh]or>aj-s Opera, "with entertainments between 
the acts, viz., a Harlequin dance, a Pierot dance and 
the Drunken Peasant, all by a gentleman lately from 
London. Miss in her Teens and an Oratorio to be 
sung by Mr. Kean." 

At first, it was customarv not to sell tickets at the 
door. Actors went round to houses and solicited 
attendance. Some disagreeable criticisms were made 
at the time of the above benefit. The manager and 
Mr. Kean both offered explanations as follows : 

[Jan. 2ist, 1751.] " \\'hereas several reports have been 
unkindly spread that Mr. Kean, for his benefit night on Mon- 

- / D 



Social New York Under the Georges 

day last, had caused a greater number of tickets to be printed 
than the house would hold, this is to certify that (according to 
the best of my knowledge) there were but i6i pit tickets, lo 
boxes, and 121 gallery tickets printed in all; and it is well 
known that as large a number have been in the house at one 
time. James Parker. 

" N. B. Tho' it was then determined not to receive any 
money at the door, it was afterwards found to be a measure 
impracticable to be followed without great offence; and such 
whose business could not afford to come in time have since had 
their money return'd. 

" Whereas it has been reported that Mrs. Taylor, in playing 
her part in my benefit, endeavoured to perform it in a worse 
manner than she was capable, and that it was done on account 
of a falling out between us: This is therefore to certify that 
there was no such difference between her and me ; and that I 
believe her being out so much in the part was owing to her not 
getting the part in time." Thomas Kean. 

We thus see that the larire room in Mr. \"an 
Dam's house eould accommodate about two hundred 
people. In November, 1751, it was announced "The 
house being new floored is made warm and comfort- 
able, besides which gentlemen and ladies may cause 
their stoves to be brought." 

These stoves were foot-warmers, — small square 
boxes with perforated lids and metal receptacles inside 
for hot embers. They were commonly in use in the 
pews of churches. The hour for beginning the per- 
formance was 6.30 r. M. and the prices of the seats 
were : a box, five shillings, the pit, four shillings, and 
gallery seats two shillings. The original prices were 
for the pit five shillings, the gallery three shillings, 
the boxes being simply portions of the pit partitioned 
off. The performances were held twice a week, but 

276 



4musements 



were frequently postponed on account of hot or in- 
clement weather. In January, i 752, we read : 

" Mr. Upton (to his great Disappointment) not meeting 
with encouragement enough to support the Company for the 
Season intends to shorten it by performing 5 or 6 plays only 
for Benefits & begins with his own on Monday the 20th Inst. 
His play is a celebrated comedy called Tuiibridge Walks, or the 
Yeoman of Kent \ his Entertainment, the Lying Valet. And as 
hitherto, encouragement has been little, hopes the Gentlemen 
and Ladies will favour him that Night." 

Mr. Upton then sailed for Europe. Before he 
went away, he played T/ic Fair Penitent (March 4,) 
and the Honest Yorlcsliii-enian, the part of Lavinia 
being; attempted by Mrs. Trcmain, and a farewell epi- 
logue by Mr. Upton. Experiences with this company 
of players had evidently not prepossessed the City 
Fathers in favour of the profession, for when a Lon- 
don company arrived fifteen months later, it experi- 
enced great opposition and the Assembly refused to 
licence it. The tribulations which the company suf- 
fered are fully set forth in a newspaper article : 

On July 2nd, 1753, "the London company of comedians, 
lately arrived from Virginia, humbly submit their case to the 
consideration of the public, whose servants they are." They 
sadly anticipate failure for their enterprise and censure for the 
undertaking. They had expected a different reception, "little 
imagining, that in a city to all appearance so polite as this, the 
Muses would be banished, . . . and the elegant entertainment 
of the Stage utterly protested against." The statement goes on 
to inform the public that it was originally proposed to Mr. Wil- 
liam Hallam, now of London, to collect a company of comedians 
and send them to New York and other American colonies. He 
consented and collected people, scenes and costumes at great 
expense, — and in Oct., 1750, sent Mr. Robert ITjiton to New 
York to obtain the necessary permission to perform, to build a 

277 



Social New York Under the Georges 

theatre, and to make all preparations. For this, Mr. Hallam 
advanced a good sum. 

Mr. Upton, however, on his arrival probably squandered 
the money with the town blades, "for we never heard from him 
after. Being thus deceived by him, the Company was at a 
stand till April, 1752, when by the persuasion of several gentle- 



1 


L 



Spinet made by Johannes Hitchcock (London, 1750 ). From Mr. Morris 
Steinert's collection of old instruments. (^See page 293. ) 

men in London, and Virginia captains, we set sail on board of 
Mr. William Lee and arrived after a very expensive and tire- 
some voyage at York River on the 28th of June following." 
There they obtained the Governor's permission, and performed 
with the greatest applause, staying eleven months. Then they 
were again persuaded to come here by several gentlemen whose 
names they will refrain from mentioning. These gentlemen 



Amusements 



gave a very rosy account of the prospects here. " They told 
us that we should not fail of a genteel and favourable recep- 
tion ; that the inhabitants were generous and polite, naturally 
fond of diversions rational, especially those of the theatre ; nay, 
they even told us that there was a very fine play-house build- 
ing, and that we were really expected. 

So they came, and now are grieved that they are not 
wanted. Being pe(j[)le of no estates, they have no fund to bear 
such repulses; a journey by sea and land of 500 miles costs 
money! "Therefore if the worthy magistrates would consider 
this in our favour that it must rather turn out a public ad- 
vantage and pleasure than a private injury, they would, we 
make no doubt, grant permission and give us an opportunity 
to convince them that we are not cast in the same mould with 
our theatrical predecessors, or that in private life or public 
occupation, we have the least affinity to them." 

There was evidently a sufficient number of friends 
of the drama to overcome the opposition, for eleven 
weeks later it was announced : 

'• 'I'he company of comedians who arrived here the past 
summer, having obtained permission from the proper authority 
to act, have built a very Wnt, large and commodious new theatre 
in the place where the old one stood; and having got it into 
good order, design to begin this evening. As they propose to 
tarry here but a short time, we hear they design to perform 
three times a week." 

The house occupied the old site, and the company 
began with the comedy, Jlic Conscious Lovers on 
Sept. 17. The plav began at 6 i'. .m. and the prices 
were Box 8/-, Pit 6'-, Gallery 3/'-. We soon find evi- 
dence of the fashional)]e habit of arriving late : 

" Ladies and gentlemen who intend to favour with their 
company are desired to come by six o'clock, being determined 
to keep to our hour as it would be a great inconvenience for 
them to be kei)t out late, and a means to prevent disappointment." 

279 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Some of the advertisements requested ladies and 
gentlemen to send their servants early to keep their 
places for them, which shows that numbered seats 
were not sold. The members of this company, the 
Douglasses, Hallams, etc. were prominent in the the- 
atrical life in the city for many years. There were 
twelve adults and three children, Lewis Hallam, a 
low comedian, his daughter aged fifteen and two sons 
aged twelve and ten ; Messrs. Rigby, M alone, Clark- 
son, Adcock, Bell, Miller, Hulett, Singleton, Mrs. 
Becceley, Mrs. Love, Mrs. Adcock, Mrs, Clarkson, 
and Mrs. Lewis Hallam, who was a relative of Rich 
of Covent Garden. Upon the death of her husband, 
she married David Douglass, who then managed this 
company. 

Hostility to the stage among a certain class 
showed itself on several occasions, but it was not 
until the troublous days of the Stamp Act that the 
mob resorted to violence. An incident that doubt- 
less hugely delighted the gallery was reported on 
May 3, i 762, as follows : 

"A Pistole reward will be given to whoever can discover 
the person who was so very rude to throw eggs from the gal- 
lery upon the stage last Monday by which the clothes of some 
ladies and gentlemen in the boxes were spoiled and the per- 
formance in some measure interrupted. 

"David Douglass." 

The performance was interrupted in a far more 
serious manner earlv in May, 1766. The theatre that 
suffered stood in Chapel Street, and on the night of 
the riot the plays were T/ic Tiuin Rivals and The 
King and the Miller of Mansfield. The manager had 

280 



Amusements 



advertised : "As the packet is arrived and has been 
the messenger of good news relative to the Repeal, it 
is hoped the public has no objection to the above 
performance." On May 8th, 1766, the paper gave the 
following account of the affair : 

" The play advertised to be acted on last Monday evening- 
having given offence to many of the inhabitants of this city 
who thought it highly improper that such entertainments should 
be exhibited at this time of public distress, when great numbers 
of poor people can scarce find means of subsistance, whereby 
many persons might be tempted to neglect their business and 
squander that money which is necessary to the payment of this 
debt and support of their families, a rumor was spread about 
town on Monday that if the play went on, the audience would 
meet with some disturbance from the multitude. This pre- 
vented the greatest part of those who intended to have been 
there from going : however many people came, and the play 
was begun, but soon interrupted by the multitude who burst 
open the doors and entered with noise and tumult. The audi- 
ence escaped in the best manner they could : many lost their 
hats and other parts of dress. A boy had his skull fractured 
— several others were dangerously hurt. The multitude im- 
mediately demolished the house, and carried away the pieces 
to the Common, where they consumed them in a bonfire." 

At the opening of this theatre in January, 1759, 
David Douglass, the manager, had written : 

" Be pleased to give the inclosed occasional Prologue and 
Epilogue spoken at the opening of the new theatre in this citv, 
a place in your paper. As we cannot imagine the dilificulty we 
met with in obtaining liberty to act here proceeded from any 
ill opinion those in authority had of a well-regulated stage, but 
rather from a tender regard to the mistaken notions of others, 
we humbly beg leave to embrace this opportunity of recom- 
mending this performance to the candid perusal of such preju- 
diced, though we doubt not, well meaning minds." 

281 



Social New York Under the Georges 

The Prologue and Epilogue were apologies and 
defences of theatrical performances. The riot of 
I 766 had no permanent effect in hindering theatrical 
performances, for in the following year a playhouse was 
opened in John Street. The company that opened it 
included among its members several persons who, 
being very good singers as well as actors and actresses, 
could sustain their parts in the light operas and musical 




Chairs of the Heppehvhite period. Originals in the Museum tor the Art 
of Decoration, Cooper Union, New York. See page 285. 



farces of the day as well as in the plays. Often dur- 
ing the performance of a tragedy or comedy, they 
were called upon to sing some popular song between 
the acts ; this, indeed, was so important a feature of 
the evening's entertainment, that their names and the 
titles of the songs were specially advertised. For 
example. Miss Maria Storer delighted the audience 

282 



Amusementi 



on Mav 2, 1768, with the celebrated song " Sweet 
Ech(^," when RicJiard III. was played for the benefit 
of the three Misses Storer. She sang it between the 
third and fourth acts. Miss Ilallam sang " 'Twas 
when the Seas were Roaring" on May 23, at Mrs. 
Douglass's benefit, when Jane Shore was played ; and 
on Mav 25, when Richard III. was performed 
again, Miss Wainwright sang, "Thro' the Wood, 
Laddie," and Miss Hallam, " \"ain is IBeauty's gaudy 
Flower." 

The members of this company who thus acquired 
a double reputation as singers and actors were : Mr. 
Stephen Woolls, Miss Wainwright, Mrs. Flarman (a 
granddaughter of Colley Gibber), Miss Hallam, Mr. 
Wall and the Storer sisters. Mr. Woolls was the 
principal singer in the company. He was born in 
Bath in i 729, and made his first appearance in New 
York at the opening of the John Street Theatre in 
1767, playing Gibbet in Ilic Beaux Stratagem and 
Mercury in Lethe. He became a great favourite, and 
sang nearly till the time of his death, which occurred 
in New York in 1799. Miss Wainwright appeared 
in New York with Mr. W^oolls as Gherry in The Beaux 
Stratagem and as Mrs. Riot in Lethe. She was also 
a native of England and was much admired for her 
sprightly performance of chambermaids and rustic 
characters. Gay comedy was her specialty. She was 
the principal female vocalist in the Douglass Gom- 
pany. Her name disappears in i 769. 

It is very interesting to note that to the public 
some of the plays had special attractions that would 
not be considered so important to-day. For example, 

28^ 



Social New York Under the Georges 

in a performance of Roinco and Juliet, the funeral was 
specially mentioned in the advertisement. Very often 
the music and dancinc: between the acts was a p:reater 
attraction than the play itself. 

There was considerable histrionic ability among 
the gentlemen of the city, who on occasion were will- 
ing to help the actors out of difficulties. In April, 




Silver tea-set owned by Frederic J dc Peystcr, Esq. Sec page 150. 

1770, Othello was acted by an amateur, assisted by 
other gentlemen as the Doge and Senate. Box prices 
were charged for the pit on this occasion. 

The theatre had the influential support of the 
Freemasons. There was a special performance in 
1769, when the Tender Husband was first given here. 
The brethren met at Mr. Burns's and walked to the 
theatre in procession. 

On another occasion, all the beauty and fashion 
crowded to the theatre to see Indian chiefs give a 
war-dance. 

Before the Revolution, several plays were mounted 
with a good deal of splendour and magnificence. Two 
instances occur in May. 1773, which are described by 
the critic as follows : 

284 



Amusements 



" Last Wednesday the play of The Tempest or tJie luchantcd 
Island, written by Shakespeare and altered by Dryden, was per- 
formed at the theatre in this city to a numerous and brilliant 
audience with universal applause; the machinery is elegant and 
the whole is allowed to be one of the most pleasing pieces that 
has made its appearance on the American stage." 

" The scenery, decorations, dresses and machinery of the 
opera of Cyviou to be performed this evening are allowed by the 
most critical judges of theatrical splendour to be more magnifi- 
cent than could be expected at so early a period on the Amer- 
ican stage. During its run at Philadelphia, several gentlemen 
from London attended the representation and made compari- 
sons much to the honour of our infant western theatre. \\t 
are informed that as it is so very late in the season it can only 
be performed one night." 

[The silver bowl on page 260 is a very early model 
of native manufacture. It belonged to the first Presi- 
dent of Columbia College. The chairs on page 282 
are patterns that were just coming into fashion at the 
close of our period.] 




The brig Thomas. (1767.) 



285 



Ill 

MUSIC 

Among the accomplishments and entertainments, 
music held no small place ; yet the music of colonial 
days differed very greatly from the art in favour at the 
present time. The world's popular composers then were 
Handel, Bach, Corelli, the two Scarlattis, Hasse, Jo- 
melli, Ilavdn, Rameau, Purcell, Lulli, Gluck, Hocche- 
rini, Arne, Piccini, Geminiani and Tartini. We shall 
presently find that the music of these men was well- 
known in New York. 

Vocal music was extremelv llorid. The air, inva- 
riably suave and sentimental, was overladen with 
ornamental turns, trills and flute-like runs and scale 
passages, demanding much execution, as well as grace 
and style, from the performers of both sexes. 

The svmphony had not yet been developed, for 
Haydn was now writing his chamber-music and had 
not produced those works that set the stamp upon this 
form. The sonata was barely throwing off the shackles 
of the suite, and in it the dance-forms still lingered, as 
they did in the quartets and quintets. Therefore, the 
most familiar forms of instrumental music were min- 
uets, gigues, gavottes, rigadoons, sarabandes, alle- 
mandes, courantes, passepieds, bourrees, and cha- 
connes. 

The violin was extremely popular, largely because 

286 



. Amusements 



of the good music that had lately been written for it. 
The oreat Corelli, called by the Italians " il divino," 




Harpsichord made hv Jacobus Kirkman (London, 1769). From 
Mr. Morris Steinert's collection of old instruments. (See page 293.) 



had, of course, published his sonatas, which are 
models of the classical style. Tartini, who founded a 

287 



Social New York Under the Georges 

very important violin-school at Padua in 1728, was con- 
stantly composing concertos and sonatas, among them 
the famous Sojiaie du Diahlc, or Tartini s Dream ; and 
Geminiani, a pupil of Corelli's, who had settled in 
London in 1714, enjoyed the greatest vogue. He 
wrote many sonatas (a few of which he arranged for 
the 'cello), concertos and other solo pieces. Geminiani 
was the first in any country to bring out a book on 
the Art of Playing tJic Jlotiii. This was published in 
London in i 740, — six years before Leopold Mozart 
issued his Molin School. He also wrote the Art of 
Playing the Guitar, the Ai't of Acconipaiiiiuciit, a 
Treatise on Memory and a Treatise on Good Taste. 
All of these books could be bought in New York at 
Rivington's. That Geminiani and Corelli were known 
to the music-lovers of New York is evident from the 
advertisement of Mrs. Tanner, a milliner in Smith 
Street, who offered for sale, in 1761, "A choice col- 
lection of Music by the most eminent composers, 
such as Handel, Arne, Corelli, Geminiani, etc., etc." 

This alone is sufficient to prove that in music New 
York kept up with Europe. It may be instructive to 
give here a list of the music that was actually on sale 
at Rivington's in i ']']^. Taking the harpsichord, spinet, 
Piano Forte and Organ first, we find : Bach's Sonatas ; 
Handel's \"oluntaries ; Lord Kellv's Overtures ; 
Garth's Sonatas ; Parry's airs (and also for the harp) ; 
Alcock's Lessons; Pasquali's Thorough Bass; Pas- 
quali's Art of Fingering ; Boccherini's Six Sonatas; 
Giordani's Six Sonatas ; Graaf's Symphonies ; and 
Fisher's and Esher's Svmphonies. 

For the Yiolin, Mr. Rivington is selling : Bocche- 

288 



Amusements 



rini's Ducts ; Win Maldcre's Overture ; Tartini's Two 
Solos ; Bach's Six Symphonies ; Giordani's Ouar- 
tettos ; Schwmdl's Choice Airs ; Fischer's Duet ; Cam- 
pioni's Trios ; Geminiani's Art of Playing on the Vto- 
lin ; Just's Divertiments ; Giardani's Solos; Marti- 
ni's Sonatas; Geminiani On Good Taste ; Geminiani 
On True Taste: Just's Sonatinas; Essex OrpJicns ; 
24 Italian and Spanish Minuets ; and 24 Italian and 
Spanish Country Dances. 

For the German Flute, he had : Blanck's solos ; 
Magherini's trios ; Tacet's duets and preludes ; Miller's 
solos ; Giordani's six chamber concertos ; Bach's six 
quartettos ; Bem's six quartettos ; Misliweckek's Trios ; 
Patoni's sonatas ; Holyoke's Duettos ; Airs and Songs 
in the Golden Pippin : Florio's Duetts ; Stamitz's 
Duetts ; Campioni's Duetts ; Capelliti's Twelve So- 
natas ; Bates's Duetts ; Kernlt's Duetts ; Col. Reid's 
Solos; and Dutch minuets. For the guitar, there 
are : Citralini's Six Divertiments ; Thackeray's Forty- 
four Airs and Divertiments ; and Airs from Love in 
a Village, The Padlock, the Ladies Frolic/^:, Cymon, 
and the new Golden Pippin ; Arnold's Twenty-four 
Lessons, Twelve new Songs and a Cantata ; Melgrove's 
Forty Lessons for One or Two Guitars ; Hymns and 
Songs sung at the Magdalen ; Alcock's Divertiments 
and Songs ; Bach's Sonatas ; Noferi's Six Lessons ; 
Ilaxby's Easy Airs ; Twelve Lessons by a Lady ; and 
Dibdin's Institution of the Garter. 

Rivington was also supplving at this date tutors, 

or instructors, for plaving on the harpsichord and jiiano- 

forte, violin, German flute, fife, bassoon, hautboy, 

French horn, clarinet, and for learning to sing. He 

20 289 



Social New York Under the Georges 

also imported what was, no doubt, exceedingly popu- 
lar : " English operas with all the songs, arranged for 
the harpsichord, Pianoforte, etc., etc." These includ- 
ed : Lionel and Clarissa, Cyinon, Golden Pippin, A/aid 
of the Mill, Love in a I Vila or, Lnstitiition of the Gaj-ter, 
Ladies Frolick, The Portrait, La biiona figlioula, Hob 
in the U^ell, Dibdin's King Arthur and Midas. 

It is very doubtful if women played the violin in 
colonial days ; but there must have been a great num- 
ber of violin students in New York, for teachers of 
the violin seem to have succeeded. Some one was 
greatly distressed in 1757 by the loss of some violin 
music. On Feb. 21st of that year, we read : " Lost ; 
a musick-book, the principal fiddle of twelve con- 
certos, entitled Dominico Scarlatti's Lessons, etc., 
made into Concertos by Charles Avison." 

At this period, Ouantz was composing for Fred- 
erick the Great, who had brought the flute into spe- 
cial prominence. We constantly find the " German 
flute " on the concert programmes and several mu- 
sicians were able to teach it in New York. The 
spinet, clavichord, and harpsichord were found in 
every home of affluence. Bach's JJ\'ll- Tempered 
Clavichord and Handel's English and French Snites 
were probably thrummed or played by every young 
lady. The Harmonious Blacksmith was doubtless a 
favourite show-piece. 

Music was a social accomplishment, and formed 
part of the equipment of the fashionable, wealthy and 
well-educated man. Although music-lovers of the 
present day may despise the old-fashioned music of 
the days before Mozart, there was very real love of 

290 



Amusements 



what music existed, and "["lees and madrisfals and 
catches were to be heard on every public occasion. 
Moreover, every man of edu- 
cation was expected to 
be ti competent musical 
critic. 

Glee-clubs a n d 
musical associations 
like those that ex- 
isted in such num- 
bers in England were 
also found in New 
York. The officers of 
the garrison were in 
manv cases able musi 
cians, and the opulent 
class here joined 
them in frequent 
musical evenings bo 
private and public. 
When the professional 
musicians were scanty 
in numbers, private 
gentlemen and officers 

always came forward Secretary originally owned by Rvck 
to reinforce the OrcheS- Suydam of Flatbush, L. I.; now by 

tra. As a rule, how- Mrs. Henry Draper. See page i i i . 

ever, we do not find 

that the ladies took any part in public concerts. 
When a musical entertainment was given by the offi- 
cers of the Fort and the gentrv of the citv, the even- 
ing usually ended in a " ball for the ladies," Profes- 

291 




Social New York Under the Georges 

sional concerts were advertised with the same attrac- 
tion. The arrival of an officer, or merchant, who was 
an amateur musician of abiHty, was eagerly welcomed. 
Local music-lovers lost no time in introducing him 
to the town. An instance of this occurs on Oct. 1 7, 
I 765 : 

"This evening will be a concert of vocal and instrumental 
music at Mr. Burns's Assembly Room — the first violin to be 
performed by a gentleman lately arrived. A solo on the violin 
by the same hand. The other instrumental parts by gentlemen 
of the town." 

The devotees of music were so numerous here 
that a Harmonic Society existed and gave concerts, 
and sometimes assisted at special dramatic and mu- 
sical entertainments. This organization had the most 
distinguished support that the society of the day could 
afford, as it was recruited from the best circles. 

At a concert in 1773, a Mr, Zedwitz conducted 
and played first violin ; and the other instrumental 
parts were performed by the "gentlemen of the Har- 
monic Society." 

On April 24, 1774, there was a subscription con- 
cert for Signora Mazzanti, Mr. Zedwitz, and Mr. 
Hulett. We learn from the advertisements that 
" the gentlemen of the Harmonic Society have prom- 
ised their assistance, and that Signora Mazzanti 
will sing several English and Italian songs." The 
tickets were $1.00. After the concert, a dance was 
promised. 

Music was more a part of the social life than it is 
to-day. It was not uncommon to have several in- 
struments in one house. For example, Governor 

292 



Amusements 



Burnet possessed a number of instruments, including 
a large bass violin, two treble violins, a harpsichord, a 
clapsichord, a double courtel, and a large violin, or 
tenor fiddle (a viola). This would show that quartets 
and quintets were not uncommon enjoyments within 
his walls. 

It was perfectly possible to buy very good in- 
struments in New York. Many persons, of course, 
brouofht their own with them from Eng-land and car- 
ried them home when they returned. Occasionally, 
too, through a death or a sale of household goods, a 
fine instrument could be obtained. For example, in 
1752, there was for sale "a good English spinet 
(Hitchcock's). Enquire of the Printer." Hitchcock 
was one of the best London makers. Undoubtedly 
the one just mentioned was similar to the spinet 
shown on page 278, belonging to the collection of 
Mr. M. Steinert of New Flaven, Conn. 

One of the characteristics of New York always 
was that of purchasing the best that could be ob- 
tained, and therefore it is not surprising to find that 
the most fashionable London instruments were in 
demand. Hitchcock's was not a new firm, as their 
instruments had been in favour even during the reign 
of Charles H. The spinet mentioned above was 
made by Hitchcock about 1750. Another instru- 
ment of that period, also belonging to the Steinert 
Collection, appears on page 287. This is a harpsi- 
chord with two keyboards of five octav^es and stops. 
It was made in London in 1769 by Jacobus Kirk- 
man. 

Manuel Josephson sold at his store in Smith 

293 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Street, in 1761, "brass trumpets and French horns." 
Those who wanted to buy violins, flutes, fifes, and 
other instruments could get them at John Anderson's, 
on Peck's Slip. 

Organs could be procured, in 1756, from Mr. Wil- 
let, who made them. Another organ-builder was 
Frederick Heyer, who, in 1773, living in Broadway 

near St. Paul's Church, 
" makes and repairs harpsi- 
chords and spinets in the 
neatest manner and with 
despatch. Has some new 
and very neat Harpsi- 
chords for sale ; also a 
Chamber Organ which may 
in a short time be com- 
pletely finished and en- 
larged (if that be neces- 
sary) to suit a place of 
public worship." 

In 1773, Rivington had 
" Forte Pianos of excel- 
lent tones from ^27 to ^30 ; violins from ^3-4-0 to 
^14; Violins of lower prices ; French horns, E with 
crooks ; German flutes of all kinds ; voice flutes, 
hautl)oys, English or common flutes, fifes, tabors and 
pipes; pitch-pipes, tuning-forks, harpsichord and 
spinet hammers, crow quills, harpsichord and Forte 
Piano wire ; rosin boxes ; mutes for violins ; mouth 
pieces for German flutes ; mouth pieces for French 
horns ; })ens to rule musick ; ruled books of all sizes; 
violin bows, the Giardini sort ; bridges and pegs for 

294 




Portrait of William Walton, owned 
by the New York Historical 
Society. See page 385. 



Amusements 



fiddles with and without screws ; bassoon, hautboy and 
bagpipe reeds, with and without cases ; desks for 
harpsichords ; violin cases ; the best Italian strings 
for violins ; violoncellos ; genuine German wire for 
harpsichords, spinets, piano fortes ; guitars ; also silk 
strings for guitars." 

New York was well supplied with music teachers. 
The one who seems to have had the greatest influence 
was William Charles Hulett, who came in 1753 with 
the Hallam company. He taught the violin, and in 
I 764 opened a music-school where the violin, German 
flute and the guitar w^ere taught. Another was Mr. 
Charles Love, also of London, who announced in 
1753 that he "teaches gentlemen the violin, haut- 
boy, German and common flutes, bassoon, French 
horn, tenor and bass viol." Mr. Proctor, a teacher 
of the harpsichord, Mr. Alexander V. Dienval, who 
"teaches the violin, German flute, tenor and bass 
viol," and Peter Pelham, who teaches the harpsichord, 
spinet and " Rules of thorough bass" were the other 
important names down to the middle of the century. 

Without doubt, the best vnisician with whom New 
York was acquainted was Mr. William Tuckey from 
Bristol, who noticed the general neglect of singing, 
and in his bid for favour gave a very comprehensive 
account of the condition of music. He was an organ- 
ist, a choir-master and a composer, and could play and 
teach the harpsichord. Mr. Tuckey evidently desired 
to provide the city with plenty of good music and 
to elevate its taste. Mr. Tuckey may speak for him- 
self, even if he is somewhat egotistical. In i 754, he 
published the following : 

295 



Social New York Under the Georges 

"William Tuckey, singing-master, desires to inform all 
lovers of psalmody that in order to encourage and amend the 
singing in public congregations in this city, all persons may be 
taught by him on very reasonable terms. As a great expecta- 
tion of encouragement in this way was the only motive which 
induced him to leave the cathedral of Bristol, whereof he was 
for several years vicar choral, and clerk of a parish also in said 
city, places of considerable profit and on an establishment of 
both for life; and not meeting the encouragement he expected, 
is resolved to teach here no longer than one year more, which 
may be depended on. And as there is no person in this coun- 
try duly qualified in the musical way, who has made a practice 
of teaching but himself, not only in church music in all its 
branches, according to the English, Dutch, French, or Italian 
method, but also in the knowledge of a thorough bass and com- 
posing music in parts both vocal and instrumental, manage- 
ment of music for concerts, etc. He humbly hopes, through 
this information to meet with better encouragement, or at least 
to establish the singing of parochial psalms on a better and 
perfecter foundation than it hath been for some time past. He 
will undertake to compose, or set to music, any piece on any 
subject, divine or moral, either in prose or verse, and adapt the 
music according to the sense of the subject for the organ, harp- 
sichord or spinnet, on application to him and a moderate satis- 
faction. Specimens of his composing may be seen at any time,, 
by any gentlemen or ladies who desire it and understand 
music." 

Teachers at the close of our period included James 
Leadbeater, organ, harpsichord and spinet ; D. Pro- 
pert, organ, harpsichord, guitar and German flute ; 
Herman Zedwitz, " pupil of several of the most emi- 
nent masters now in London and Germany," violin ; 
and Nicholas Biferi from Naples, " singing after the 
Italian way," the harpsichord, and composition. In 
1774, the latter establishes an "Academy" for music, 
dancing and languages, his associates being Pietro 

296 



Amusements 



rl^'-^'^^'t^: 



Sodi, dancino^-mastcr, and Joseph Cozani, who teaches 
French and ItaHan. 

Concerts were a favourite form of entertainment. 
An advertisement as early as 1735, shows how fond 
amateurs were of playing : 

'' To-morrow, the 9th of 
March Instant, there will be a 
Consort of Music, Vocal and In- 
strumental, for the Benefit of 
Mr. Pachelbel. The Harpsicord 
Part performed by himself. The 
Songs, Violins and German Flute 
by private Hands. The Consort 
will begin precisely at 6 o'clock 
at the House of Robert Todd, 
Vintner." 



t 




Portrait of Mrs. William Walton, 
owned by the New York His- 
torical Society. See page 385. 



After this the concerts 
took place in the New Ex- 
change, or Assembly Room. 
The price of admission 
averaged six shillings, the hour for beginning being 
six o'clock, and the concert usually ending with a 
ball. The teachers already mentioned frequently 
gave concerts for their own benefits, and were active 
in organizing subscription concerts. The latter was 
sometimes difficult, but Mr. Hulett, who for years 
took charge of these regular concerts, was evidently 
persistent. In 1767 we read : 

"The Subscription Concert to be given this and every 
evening during the season exactly at Half Past Six o'clock. As 
many gentlemen were not to be found at Home when they 
were waited on with the Subscription Book, Mr. Hulett 
acquaints them that he will wait on them on the next 
Notice." 

297 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Again there were special concerts of special instru- 
ments — recitals we should call them to-day — like the 
following for March i8, 1756 : " On Tuesday, the i8th 
instant, will be opened at the City Hall a New Organ, 
made by Gilbert Ash, where will be performed a con- 
cert of Vocal and Instrumental Music. (Two songs 
by Mr. Handel.) An organ concerto composed by 
Sigr. Giovanni Adolffo Hasse. For the benefit of a 
poor woman." 

Benefit concerts were frequent, and, as a rule, the 
programme was both vocal and instrumental. At a 
benefit for Mr. Dienval in 1764, " at the conclusion 
of the performance will be sung a grand chorus song, 
accompanied with kettledrums and trumpets or clari- 
nets." A concert for the benefit of William Cobham 
and William Tuckey, took place Dec. 29, 1755, at the 
New Exchange Room. The programme was com- 
posed of both vocal and instrumental music, and the 
numbers included : Damon and CJiloc, composed by 
Dr. Arne ; a two-part song in praise of a soldier, com- 
posed by the late famous Mr. Henry Purcell ; and 
an ode on masonry accom]:)anicd with instruments 
and never performed in England but once in pub- 
lic ; and a solo on the German flute by Mr. Cob- 
ham. "After the concert there will be a ball for the 
ladies." 

Sometimes also there were benefits for the military 
band stationed at Fort George. For example, we 
read : " For the benefit of the Royal American Band 
of Musick on Monday, 2d April, 1767, will be held 
a concert of vocal and instrumental music at Mr. 
Burns's New Assembly Rooms." In 1775, also, a 

298 



Amusements 



public concert for the benefit of a band of music is to 
be held at Mr. P lull's Assembly Rooms." 

The concert was a great feature at both Vauxhall 
and Ranclagh, and here Mr. Stephen Woolls, Miss 
Wainwright, Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Hallam and the 
Storer sisters, frequently appeared. Tiicse singers 
<^)ftcn gave benefit concerts at Burns's Assembly 
Room. 

A concert took {)lace at Mr. Hull's Assembly 
Room on May 26, 1774, for the benefit of Mr. Biferi 
and Mr. Sodi : "The said concert will be divided into 
two Acts, each Act composed of four pieces. Mr. 
Biferi, master of music from Naples, will perform on 
the harpsichord a piece of music of his own composi- 
tion with the orchestra ; in the second act, he will 
perform a solo accompanied with the violin. There 
will follow a ball in which Mr. Sodi will dance the 
louvre and the minuet with Miss Sodi, a young lady 
nine years of age ; and Miss Sodi will dance a riga- 
doon with young Mr. Hulett." 

With regard to church music, we may be perfectly 
sure that after Mr. Tuckey came to New York in 
I 754, there was great improvement. A good organ 
made by John Clemm had been erected in Trinity 
Church in 1741, and in 1764, another, built by Snetz- 
ler, was brought from England and put in its place. 
It is natural to suppose that the music composed by 
the leading choir-masters and organists of England 
was known here. The following, printed on Oct. 16, 
1766, gives us some hint of what was popular : 

" By particular desire of a good number of ladies and gen- 
tlemen of credit and character in this city, there will be a con- 

299 



Social New York Under the Georges 

cert of vocal and instrumental music at Mr. Burns's new room 
on Thursday the 30th Inst. ; to begin at six o'clock in the 
Evening. 

" This concert will consist of nothing but Church Music in 
which will be introduced a new Te Deum, Jubilate Deo, Cantate 
Domino and Deus Magnificatur with an Anthem (in which there 
is an obbligato part for a harp, as there also is in the Cantate 
Domino) with several other pieces of church music intermixed 
with other instrumental performances in order to ease the 
voices. The whole to conclude with a Martial Psalm (46th) 
accompanied with all the instruments and a pair of drums." 




Stage-Waggons kept hv John Barnhill, Elm Street, 
Philadelphia, and John Mercereau at the New 
Blazing Star, near New York." (1768.) 



300 



IV 

BALLS, ASSEMBLIES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS 

One of Society's chief diversions was dancing ; 
but the dances of the Georgian age were far more 
graceful than those of to-day. We cannot doubt 
that there were many entertainments in private homes 
for which Mr. Lenzi and other caterers supphed the 
supper and made the table attractive with sweets, jel- 
lies, custards, cakes, syllabubs, wines and fruits. The 
slightest as well as the more important gathering, of 
persons furnished the excuse for a ball. We have 
seen that nearly every concert ended with a ball, or 
that "the proper music would wait on the ladies and 
gentlemen " after the programme had been played 
and sung. 

Balls, as well as concerts, were given for the bene- 
fit of musicians, dancing-masters and others, and tick- 
ets were sold for these at four or five shillings. 

The Assembly seems to have been a kind of danc- 
ing club or class that met regularly during the winter. 
It was composed of the most fashionable people of 
the city. In 1759, we read : "The Dancing Assembly 
will be opened at Mr. Edward Willet's on the evening 
of Dec. 8th, and will continue every other Thursday 
evening from that time during the season. Directors: 
Duane, Walton, M'Evers, Banyer." Two of these 
directors seem to have liked their social duties in 

301 



Social New York Under the Georges 



connection with this organization, for in 1763 we 

read : 

"Several gentlemen have declined taking charge of the 
Dancing Assembly again as being a disagreeable and unthank- 
ful office. Therefore Charles M'Evers and C. Duane, being 
sensible of the advantage of so useful and polite an entertain- 
ment have taken charge till managers agreeable to the public 
shall be elected." 

PhiHp Livingston and Thomas Hicks seem to 
have been elected, for their names are signed as man- 
agers. On Oct. 24, 1 763, 
they announced that " The 
New York Subscription 
Assembly will begin at six 
of the clock this evening at 
Mr. Burns's Assembly Room 
in the Broad-Way." On Oct. 
23, I 766, we read : " Dancing- 
Assembly will be opened at 
Burns's long room on Thurs- 
dav, the 30th Inst, at 6 r. m., 
and continued once every 
fortnight during the season." 
The managers were Gerard 
Walton, John Marston and 
William Seton. 

These Dancing Assem- 
blies were long in vogue ; and 
appear to have been among the most important en- 
tertainments that New York afforded. In an unpub- 
lished diary of the period written in 1741-7 by Elisha 
Parker, a young lawyer who was born in New Jersey 

^02 




Angelica 
worn 

Miss 



Schuvler's gown, 
by her descendant, 
Angelica Schuyler 



Church. See page 315. 



Amusements 



in 1724, and came to New York in 1740 to study law 
witli James Alexander, there is mention of these 
dances. Youns;- Parker was studious and diliorent, 
but found time to enjoy himself. He was well-con- 
nected and through the Alexanders had many oppor- 
tunities for forming new acquaintances. His diary, 
unfortunately, is short and fragmentary. He lived at 
Mrs. Ver Planck's in the Broad-Way. He gives us 
a very clear idea of his daily life when he notes : 

" Used to get up early and breakfast and go to Mr. Alex- 
ander's; write from eight till dinner-time; come to my lodgings 
and eat dinner; go back and write (I think) till six o'clock; 
then read with him in his room till supper-time." 

"Came to New York where I spent the winter; lodged at 
Mrs. Vangelder's ; spent chief of my time at Mr. Alexander's 
in the day; law and business at night; continued as we had 
done the winter before at mathematics with his son. At 
Morrisania with J. Depeyster; in December my grandmother 
dyed; in ye holidays the cocks fought. . . . Young assembly 
in Broadway ; many entertainments by the parents of the young 
ladies, I think same the winter before. Mrs. Baker Mcintosh, 
C. Breton officers, Harrison ; Twelfth Cakes sometime the be- 
ginning of the winter." (1745.) 

"Much frolicking this winter; at first not acquainted with 
any of the officers; David Johnston intimate; introduced to 
'em; got intimate with Rob and Tyr. . . . Cards; diversions; 
more time spent with Ladies; few frolicks at their homes; 
Mrs. A's family in mourning; Dr. dead; J. V' Home hurt him- 
self; big foolish affair about big mistake; frolick at Mrs. John- 
ston's; Sam Bayard. ... J. Stevens lodg'd sometimes with me 
at Mrs. Vangelder's: our jaunt to Morrisania in a slay; dined 
at J. Bass's with Ladies; young Assembly; asked also to the 
Old." (I747-) 

Such were the pleasures of the day. One of 
the ladies with whom Mr. Parker used to frolic and 



Social New York Under the Georges 

dance at these assemblies was Miss Catherine Alex- 
ander whom he subsequently married (see page j^^. 
The dancinof-academv seems to have been somewhat 
similar to the Assembly, if we may judge from the 
following announcement of Oct. 19, 1772: "The 
dancing academy begins Thursday the 22nd inst. 
John Reade, John Jay, Robert S. Livingston, Junr. 
Managers." 

The entertainments given at the Fort were espe- 
cially brilliant. The Governor frequently issued invi- 
tations which, naturally enough, were much sought 
after. His Majesty's birthday was always given up 
to demonstrations of every kind that could fill the 
hours of a holiday. In the evening there were several 
balls, the most distinguished being that given at His 
Excellency's home in the Fort. We cite a few con- 
temporary descriptions of these demonstrations : 

" His Majesty's Birthday, was observed here with the usual 
solemnity. Ijetween the hours of eleven and twelve in the 
forenoon, his Excellency, our Governour was attended at his 
House in Fort George by the Council, Assembly, Merchants, 
and other Principal Gentlemen and Inhabitants of this and the 
adjacent Places. The Independent Companies posted here be- 
ing under Arms and the Cannon round the Ramparts firing 
while His Majesty, the Queen's, the Prince's, the Royal Fam- 
ilies, and their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of 
Orange's Healths were drunk ; and then followed the Healths 
of his Grace, the Duke of New-Castle, of the Duke of Grafton, 
of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole, and many other 
Royal Healths. In the Evening the whole City was illumi- 
nated, his Excellency and Lady gave a splendid Ball and Supper 
at the Fort, where was the most Numerous and fine Appear- 
ance of Ladies and Gentlemen that had ever been known upon 
the like occasion." (1734.) 

304 



Amufementf 



The anniversary of the King's accession and of the 
Queen's birthday were similarly observed. Of the 
King's buthday in 1735 we read : 

"The Evening was concluded witli all demonstrations of 
Loyalty and Joy. There was a Ball and Entertainment at the 
Fort at which the Ap- 
pearance of Cientlemen 
and Ladies was very 
splendid, many of them 
in New Cloaths and 
very Rich in Honour of 
the Day." 

"The Prince of 
Wales's Birthday was 
celebrated at the Black 
Horse in a most elegant 
and genteel Manner. 
There was a most mag- 
nificent Appearance of 
Gentlemen and Ladies. 
The Ball began with 
French Dances, and then 
the Company proceeded 
to Country Dances, upon 
which Mrs. Norris led up 
two new Country Dances 
made upon the Occasion ; 
the first of which was 
called The Prince of 
Wales, and the second, 
The Princess of Saxe- 
Gotha, in Honour of the 
Day. There was a most 
sumptuous Entertain- 
ment afterward. At the 

conclusion of which the Honourable Rip Van Dam, Esq., presi- 
dent of His Majesty's Council began the Royal Healths, which 
21 305 




Dress owned originally by Susannah de 
Lancev, daughter of James de Lancey, 
Lieutenant-Governor of New York, 
1747-1760, and acting Governor, 
i7 57_i76o. Worn by Miss Susan 
de Lancey Fenimore Cooper, who in- 
herited it from her grandmother, Susan 
de Lancev. 



Social New York Under the Georges 



were all drank in Bumpers. The whole was conducted with 
the utmost Decency, Mirth and Chearfulness." (1736.) 

"A Jack was displayed all the day from a flagstaff on the 
south west bastion of Fort George, the City Regiment of Mi- 
litia and troops were under arms, and reviewed by His Excel- 
lency George Clinton, Esq., our Governor, from the piazza of 
the City Hall, as they passed by from the Broad Way, where 
they had been drawn up, and they made a very handsome 
figure, his Excellency being attended by some of the Gentle- 
men of the Council, the Mayor, Corporation and Officers of 
the militia, entertained them in honour of the day with a most 
extraordinary glass of wine (such as is rare to be met with in 
any private house) from Hugh Crawford's near at hand, and 
there were drunk His Majesty's and other Royal Healths, 
under the discharge of twenty-one of the artillery of the Fort, 
His Majesty having now entered into the 65th year of his age. 

" In the evening there was a private entertainment and ball 
at His Excellency's, consisting of a snug select company of 
the choicest fruits of the town, that were particularly invited 
for the purpose, the only entertainment of the kind that His 
Excellency's leisure has admitted of upon such public occasions 
during his administration ; the company was very sociable, and 
the night concluded there as usual. 

"The gentlemen that had not the honour to be invited to 
His Excellency's ball resolved not to be behindhand in their 
demonstrations of loyalty on this occasion, and therefore 
ordered a public entertainment to be provided against the even- 
ing at Mr. Ramsey's tavern, where there was a very splendid 
and beautiful appearance of ladies, such as would have graced 
an Assembly in England. There were several gentlemen of 
the Council and Corporation, and most of the principal mer- 
chants and other gentlemen in the city, that made up a gay 
and numerous assembly. 

"The ball was opened about six o'clock, the city being 
illuminated from one end to the other, the supper was served 
up about ten, and notwithstanding the short warning given, 
there was the greatest variety this town or country could pro- 
duce, and the tables were decorated in so neat and elegant a 

306 



imujements 



manner as raised a general admiration and 'twas declared by 
good judges that never was a more magnificent entertainment 
in this country. The whole tables were taken up with ladies 
the length of two rooms laid into one, that the gentlemen's 
time was generally 
employed in waiting 
on them, and when 
they were done the 
gentlemen supplied 
their places. After 
supper. His Majesty's, 
the Prince and Prin- 
cess of Wales, and the 
other Royal Healths 
were drunk, and then 
prosperity to theprov- 
ince, a speedy exporta- 
tion of its enemies, etc. 
" The whole affair 
was conducted with 
the utmost decency 
and decorum ; there 
was the greatest gai- 
ety, cheerfulness and 
complacency in every 
countenance. The 
ball was concluded 
about 5 A. M. and the 
night was passed in 
the general satisfac- 
tion, without the least incivility offered or offence taken by 
any one, which is scarce to be said on the like occasions. We 
are told this was distinguished by the title of the Country 
Ball." (1748.) 

Birthdays of other important men afforded the 
opportunity for festivities. For example, on Jan. 17, 
1765, the papers report: "Monday last, being the 

.S07 




Dress belonging to Judith Crommelin Ver 
Planck in 1760, worn by a member of 
the tamilv. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

birthday of the Marquis of Granby, Master of the 
Ordnance, in the evening an elegant entertainment 
was provided by the officers of the artillery, and sev- 
eral curious fireworks were exhibited in the fields." 

There were a number of patriotic, benevolent, and 
political societies and social clubs in the city. Un- 
fortunately the records of these organizations are 
scanty. One of the most important was that of St. 
George, the patron saint of England. This continued 
in existence until 1781. It seems to have been a very 
important social organization. St. George's Day 
(April 23) was always marked by some entertainment. 
For example : 

" Friday last being the anniversary of St. George, his Ex- 
cellency Sir Jeffrey Amherst gave a ball to the gentlemen and 
ladies of this city at Cranley's New Assembly Room. The 
company consisted of 69 ladies and as many gentlemen, all 
very richly dressed; and 'tis said the entertainment was the 
most elegant ever seen in America." (1762). In 1771 "a num- 
ber of Englishmen descendants of Englishmen amounting on 
the whole to upward of 120, had an elegant entertainment at 
Bolton's in honour of the day . . . Twenty-three toasts 
were drunk and the company parted at early dawn in high good 
humour." Among those present were the Rt. Hon. the Earl 
of Dunmore, his Excellency Gen. Gage His Majesty's Attorney- 
General, the gentlemen of His Majesty's Council, and Presi- 
dent John Tabor Kemp, Esq. 

The Irishmen had their St, Patrick Society and 
the Scotchmen their St. Andrew Society. 

" The anniversary feast of St. Patrick is to be celebrated 
on Wednesday, the 17th Inst, at the house of Mr. John Mar- 
shall, at Mount Pleasant, near the College. Gentlemen that 
please to attend will meet with the best usage." (1762.) 

308 



Amusements 



" Monday last being the anniversary of St. Patrick, tutelar 
saint of Ireland, was ushered in at the dawn with fifes and 
drums which produced a very agreeable harmony before the 
doors of many gentlemen of that nation, and others. Many of 
them assembled and spent a joyous though orderly evening at 
the house of Mr. Bardin in this city." (1766.) Twenty-three 
toasts were drunk. 

" Last Monday the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise 
called Santa Clans, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr. 
Waldron's, where a great number of the Sons 
of that ancient saint celebrated the day with 
great joy and festivity." (1773.) 

"March 7, 1774. Last Tuesday, being St. 
David's Day, a very elegant entertain- 
ment was given at Hull's in honour of 
their tutelar Saint, by the officers of 
H. M. Welsh Fusilears to their E.vcel- 
lencies the Governor and General and 
the gentlemen of the military estab- 
lishment. Wednesday, another very ele- 
gant entertainment was given at Hull's 

His Excellency the Governor to the Hon- Locket painted in the 
ourable the Gentlemen of His Majesty's miniature stvle and 
Council and to the gentlemen of the Gen- 
eral Assembly." 

"March 21, 1774. Tuesday morning 
last, the gentlemen who compose the most 
benevolent Society of the Friendly Broth- 
ers of St. Patrick gave a very elegant 

breakfast at Hull's to the principal ladies and gentlemen of 
this city in commemoration of the tutelar saint of Ireland." 

"Friday last, being the anniversary of St. Andrew, the 
same was observed by the gentlemen of the Scots Society of 
this city, and others. A splendid and elegant dinner was pro- 
vided at the house of Mr. John Thompson ; the colours being 
displayed on board the ships in the harbour, particularly the 
ship Prince U'l'lliaiii, Capt. Bishop, was beautifully decorated. 
His Majesty, the Royal Family and the other loyal toasts were 

309 




set with diamonds ; 
owned hv Mrs. 
Martha Colgate 
Singleton. See 
page 315. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

drunk, while the cannon on board the Prince William were 
discharging. In the evening they went in procession to the 
theatre in Nassau Street attended by a vast concourse of peo- 
P'-e." (1753-) 

" On Wednesday being St. Andrew's Day, the Resident and 
Honorary Members of the New York St. Andrew's Society 
held their Anniversary meeting at Scotch Johnny's where, 
agreeable to the intention of the charitable institution, a con- 
siderable sum of money, it is said, was collected for the use of 
the poor. After which as there happened to be a great many 
Scotch gentlemen belonging to the army in town, upwards of 
sixty members in all dined together in a most elegant manner. 
Many loyal and patriot toasts were drunk on the occasion, 
heartily yet soberly. In the evening, the same company gave a 
ball and entertainment at the Exchange Room and King's Arms 
Tavern to the town, at which a large and polite company of 
both sexes assembled. The ladies in particular made a most 
brilliant appearance, and it is thought there scarcely ever was 
before so great a number of elegantly dressed fine women seen 
together at one place in North America. As there was a great 
many of His Majesty's officers present, several too of the first 
rank, who had never before seen a public company of ladies in 
this part of the world, they were most agreeably surprised and 
struck with the charming sight ! The whole was conducted 
with the utmost regularity, decency and elegance; and nothing 
but gaiety, good humour and universal satisfaction appeared 
from beginning to end." (1757.) 

New York was never niggardly in greeting a 
distino-uishcd individual. Sliffht as the followino; ac- 
count of Jan. 5, 1756, may be, it furnishes us with an 
idea of the city's enthusiastic welcome to Sir William 
Johnson, the hero of the battle of Lake George : 

" Last Tuesday, Major General Johnson arrived here from 
Albany ; about 6 miles out of town he was met by a considerable 
number of gentlemen on horseback who conducted him to the 
King's Arms tavern, where most of the principal inhabitants 

310 



Amusements 



Avere assembled to congratulate him on his safe arrival. The 
ships in the habour saluted him as he passed the street, amidst 
the acclamations of the people. At night the city was beauti- 
fully illuminated and the general joy displayed on this occa- 
sion evidenced the high gratitude of the people for the singu- 
lar services this gentleman has done his country in the late 
expedition." 

Society was always glad to seize any op})ortunity 
for a social evening, a dance, or a feast. The officers 
of the garrison were foremost in promoting brilliant 
entertainments, and there was also much quiet convivi- 
ality among citizens. The following paragraphs may 
be quoted as instances : 

" Monday last in the evening a grand entertainment was 
given by the gentlemen officers of the army to the ladies and 
gentlemen of this city ; at which we hear there was the most 
numerous and brilliant appearance of both sexes that ever was 
known in this place." (Jan. 26, 1767.) 

" The friends of Messrs. John Cruger, James De Lancey, 
Jacob ^Valton, and James Jauncey, who are inclined to spend a 
day together in a social manner, are requested to meet at 
Burns's Long Room to-morrow evening at six o'clock in order 
to fix the time." (Jan. 30, 1769.) 

" On Monday evening there was a very numerous and most 
brilliant appearance of ladies at a ball in Hull's Assembly 
Room on occasion of Mrs. Trvons' and His Excellency our 
gracious Governor's departure for England." (April 11, 1774.) 

There was a Flying Club advertised to meet on 
Nov. 21, 1773 ; '^^^^ '^ Society of the Friendly Brothers 
in 1774, when we learn that the "concert which was 
to have been given at the Assembly Room is deferred 
on account of the public Breakfast of the Gentlemen 
who compose the Society of the Friendly Brothers. 
There was also a Social Club, which met in the winter 

^11 



Social New York Under the Georges 



at Fraunces's Tavern. A function of much social 
brilliance, attended by the Governor and all the nota- 
bilities, was the annual Commencement of King's Col- 
lege. That of 1767 
is typical of many. 

" Last Tuesday a 
Publick Commencement 
was held at St. George's 
Chapel in this City. 
His Excellency the Gov- 
ernor, Sir Jeffrey Am- 
herst, several of the 
Members of His Maj- 
esty's Council and a 
polite, crowded, and 
splendid audience of 
Gentlemen and Ladies 
were pleased to honour 
the day with their Com- 
pany. 

" The Ceremony be- 
gan with suitable prayer 
and an elegant Latin 
Oration by the Rev. 
Myles Cooper, A. M., 
President of the Col- 
lege : To these suc- 
ceeded a very spirited 
Salutatory Oration by 
Mr. De Peyster, deliv- 
Tea-table and silver mugs (1763-1764), ered with a very decent 
owned by Thomas Barrow. See pages Action and proper Em- 
112 and 138. phasis. Then followed 

Syllogistic Disputations 
in Latin upon the following Questions. The Bachelors Thesis, 
An, Materia habeatin se vim activam ? The Negative also was main- 
tained in a Latin Philosophical Dissertation by Mr. B. Cuyler. 

312 




Amusements 



'•The Thesis for the Masters, was — An, sublato statii futiirOy 
uUa inriicat ad viriiitem obligatio 1 

"The negative of which was strongly supported in another 
Latin composition by Mr. S. Bayard. 

"A concise and full Refutation of Mr. Hobbes's IVinciples 
was offered in a masterly Manner, in an English essay on the 
much contested Position — Ultnim Status Na tune Jit status Belli. 

"The Exercises being finished, the President conferred on 
the following young Gentlemen the Degree of Batchelor of 
Arts : Messrs. De Peyster and Cuyler. And the Degree of Master 
of Arts on Messrs. Verplanck, Livingston, Watts, P)ayard, Wil- 
kins, Hoffman and Marston. 

" The Ceremony was succeeded by a polite English Valedic- 
tory oration, genteely addressed to the most respectable parts 
of the Audience, and gracefully delivered by Mr. Philip Liv- 
ingston. 

"Then followed a very proper and serious English Address 
from the President to the young Gentlemen ; which with a 
suitable Prayer concluded the Business of the Day. — 

" The Whole was conducted with great Propriety, Decency 
and Order, and to the Satisfaction of the Numerous and Polite 
Audience. 

" His Excellency the Governour, Sir Jeffrey Amherst, the 
Members of his Majesty's Council, and many Gentlemen of 
Distinction, honoured the Governors of the College with their 
Company in the College Hall at Dinner." 

In 1771, a reporter became enthusiastic over the 

performances of the day : 

" It is with sincere satisfaction we observe that the young 
gentlemen performed their several exercises with such propriety 
of pronunciation and gracefulness of gesture as obtained the 
highest applauses from the most numerous and respectable 
audience that ever assembled in this city on such an occasion. 
Every lover of his country and admirer of the sciences must 
have seen with joy so fair a train of youth, promising by their 
present improvements future excellence in their respective pro- 
fessions and consequential advantages to their country. A 

1 I T 



Social New York Under the Georges 

correspondent observes that of the many excellent speeches 
delivered at our last Commencement, the following is perhaps 
not the least true, tho' it be not the most polite: 

" T/mt is a very learned young gentleman — a very young 
learned gentleman indeed. And after he has seen a little more 
of the world, and been kicked down stairs two or three times 
for his impertinence — he will be much the better for it." 

During the first half uf the century, the average 
New Yorker was too busy to care much about higher 




Chairs owned by Cornelia Haring in 1765 ; now by her descendants, 
Mrs. Wilmot T. Cox and Mrs. French Ensor Chadwick. See 
page 315. 

education. King's College was not founded till 1754. 
In 1748, Cadwallader Golden complained : "Tho' the 
Province of New York abounds certainly more in 
riches than any other of the Northern Colonies, yet 
there has been less care to })ropagate Knowledge or 

314 



Amusements 



Learning in it than anywhere else. The only prin- 
ciple of Life propagated among the young People is 
to get Money, and Men are only esteemed according 
to what they are worth, — that is, the Money they are 
possessed of." 

Three dresses of the period are shown on pages 
302, 305 and 307 ; the first belonged to Angelica 
Schuyler ; the second to Susannah dc Lanccy, and 
the third to Judith Crommclin Ver Planck. They 
are worn by lineal descendants of the original owners. 
A locket of the period appears on page 309, painted 
w^ith a figure of Ceres. This was a gift in England 
from John Austen to Martha Colgate and is now 
owned by their granddaughter, Mrs. Martha Colgate 
Singleton. The chairs on page 314 show the Chinese 
taste of the day as applied by Chippendale. 




" House and Lot." (1767.) 



315 



SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS 

Marionettes, puppet-shows and waxworks were 
extremely popular. New exhibitions of this character 
were constantly being imported. Posture-makers, 
tumblers, acrobats, conjurers and rope-walkers not 
unfrequently appeared with these shows. Occasion- 
ally, the "artists" of the latter class, as they called 
themselves, considered themselves of sufficient impor- 
tance to perform alone. In 1734, for instance, "is 
to be seen the famous German artist who is to per- 
form the wonders of the world by dexterity of hand. 
The things he performs are too numerous to be 
enumerated here." We gain a good idea of these 
curious shows from the managers' own accounts, in 
1747 and 1749: 

" To be seen at the house of Mr. Hamilton Hewetson at 
the Sign of the Spread Eagle, near White-Hall Slip, Punch's 
Opera, Bateinan or the Unhappy Marriage, with a fine Dialogue 
between Punch and his wife Joan. Acted by a set of lively 
figures from Philadelphia. Also a most curious Posture-Maker 
Boy, late from Dublin, who performs with the utmost Dex- 
terity, most surprising Postures, transforming himself into a 
great number of various Shapes, together with a great Variety 
of Tumbling, exceeding pleasant and diverting; and many 
other curiosities too tedious to mention." 

"To be seen at a large theatrical room next to the Sign of 
the Dolphin (built on purpose) near the workhouse, for the 
entertainment of gentlemen, ladies and others to-morrow even- 

316 



Amusements 



ing and to continue with different plays every week, Punch's 
company of comecHans." 

"This is to acquaint the curious that the effigies of the 
Royal Family and that of the Queen of Hungary — and other 
curiosities in wax are to be seen (from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m.) and as 
the stay of the said curiosities will be but a few days in town 
the price is reduced to 1/6 for each person. N. B. None to be 
admitted without present pay." 

In 1753, a woman was attracting attention. In- 
teresting as Mr. Dugee's feats were, the " Female 
Samson " must have created the most enthusiasm. 
The Dugees explained their jx-rformance as follow^s : 

" (By Permission) Will be exhibited by Anthony Jacob 
Dugee, the young Indian, and little negro boy the accustomed 
surprising and entertaining performances on the stiff rope and 
slack wire (scarcely perceptible) together with the usual etjuili- 
bries on the chairs and pins, as well by the black as the In- 
dian boy. After which the company will be agreeably enter- 
tained with the wonderful feats of strength and activity of 
Mrs. Dugee which has given so much satisfaction to H. R. H. 
the Princess Dowager of ^Vales and the Royal Family of Great 
Britain that they were pleased to call her The Female Samson. 
I. She lies with her body extended between two chairs and 
bears an anvil of 300 lb. on her breast, and will suffer two men 
to strike it with sledge hammers. II. She will bear six men to 
stand on her breast lying in the same position. III. She will 
lift the above anvil by the hair of her head. IV. She will 
suffer a stone of 700 lb. to lye on her breast and throw it off 
six feet from her. In particular, Mr. Dugee will dance the 
stiff-rope with iron fetters on his feet. The whole to conclude 
with a dance called the Drunken Peasant." 

No show, however, in the middle of the century 

could compare with the Tragedy of Young Bateman. 

It was thrilling. In 1756, we read : 

" Now to be seen by the curious, at the house of Mr. Adam 
Vandenbergh in the Broadway, a curious musical machine 




Social New York Under the Georges 

which represents the tragedy of Bateman, viz. First, two fold- 
ing doors fly open, a curtain draws itself up, and exhibits a 
company of gentlemen and ladies, with knives and forks in 

motion, sat down to a wedding dinner. 
The bride having promised marriage 
to young Bateman, proving false and 
marrying old Jermain. Bateman hangs 
himself on her wedding-day. Four 
cupids fly down and carry Bateman 
away. The bride still enjoying her- 
self at dinner, she at last falls from 
the table dead; and her rosy colour 
changes to a deadly paleness. After 
Mahogany table, originally ^^\(^^\y^ the Devil comes up, and carries 
owned by Captain Dan- j^er away. Here the curtain falls, and 
iel Cox ; now by Wil- ^j^^g ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ -j^he curtain draw- 
mot Townsend Cox, \^^ ^,p ^ second time, instead of the 
^^^i- wedding exhibits young Bateman laid 

in state, with the mourners about him, 
dressed in black coats and white hatbands; the room hung with 
escutcheons, and six ringers, in their shirts, ringing the bells. 
The representation of a carpenter's yard, with people at work, 
with several other moving figures." 

About the middle of the century, there was ex- 
hibited a splendid collection of waxworks which met 
with an unfortunate accident. The sad calamity is 
thus described : 

" On Monday evening about six o'clock a fire was discov- 
ered in the house of Mrs. Wright, the ingenious artist in wax- 
works, and proprietor of the figures so nearly resembling the 
life which have for some time past been exhibited in this city 
to general satisfaction. The accident happened when Mrs. 
Wright was abroad, and only children at home ; and was occa- 
sioned by one of them accidentally setting fire to a curtain 
inclosing some of the figures. The child for some time in vain 
endeavoured to extinguish the fire, which was soon committed 

318 



Amusements 



to the clothes of the figures and the wax of wliich they were 
composed. The neighbours immediately assembled and with 
the greatest care and expedition gave all possible assistance 
and preserving the household goods; the fire-engines played 
into the house, but tho' most of the waxwork was destroyed 
(together with some new pieces which Mrs. Wells, sister to 
Mrs. Wright, had lately brought from Charlestown, the whole 
amounting it is said to the value of several hundred pounds) 
yet she was so fortunate as to save the curious pieces of the 
Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the Pennsylvania Farmer, and some others, 
which she still continues to exhibit ; and we hear she proposes 
to repair the loss sustained by this fire as soon as possible, by 
making some new and curious pieces." 

Two months later, the damage was repaired, the 
new pieces being the murder of Abel by Cain, and 
the treachery of Delilah to Samson, In 1767, an ex- 
hibition for the Benefit of the Poor was held. " In 
a commodious room, which is now fitted up in theatri- 
cal manner, for the accommodation of ladies and gen- 
tlemen, at the Sis^n of the Oranoe Tree on Golden 
Hill, will be presented the noted Bayly's performances 
by Dexterity of Hand, with a variety of curious Bal- 
ances by the noted Hymes, lately arrived from Sad- 
dlers Wells ; with the facetious humours of Mr. Punch, 
his family, and company of artificial comedians three 
feet high ; a view of the sea with ships, mermaids, 
fish, sea-monsters, etc., which is allowed the most 
natural curiosity of the kind ever seen ; and a court 
of twenty-five figures, or an assembly of maids and 
bachelors." 

In addition to waxworks and other artificial fig- 
ures, there was (jreat interest in livins: monsters and 
curiosities. Animals familiar enough to us seem 

319 



Social New York Under the Georges 

to have excited the pubHc considerably. These were 
shown in private houses and taverns. In 1749, 

"We hear that Mr. Bonnin has got one of the greatest 
curiosities in nature. This wonderful phenomenon is beyond 
our power to describe as fully as to communicate an adequate 
idea of it. It is a crab fish, with most of its shell on both 
sides, preserved in its natural colour, and the spawn is petrified 
into a hard stone." 

This, however, paled before the next exhibit which 
was offered in i 75 i : 

"To be seen at the House of John Bonnin next door to 
Mr. Peter Brower's near the new Dutch Church a curious live 
Porcupine of various colours; a creature arm'd with Darts, 
which resemble Writing Pens, tho' of different Colours, and 
which he shoots at any Adversary with ease when angry or 
attack'd tho' otherwise of great good Humour and Gentleness. 
He will eat in the Presence of any Person, and is justly Es- 
teemed a great Rarity in these Parts." 

The obliging and altogether admirable porcupine 
had a rival for popular favour in the same year : 

"Be seen at the House of Mr. Edward Willet at White 
Hall a Creature called a Japanese of about 2 Feet high, his 
Body resembling a human Body in all parts except the feet and 
tail : He walks upright and performs various Actions to Ad- 
miration such as walking upon a Line, hanging and swinging 
under it, exercising the Firelock, dances to any Tune and Sun- 
dry other Things too tedious to mention. The Sense and 
Agility of this Creature renders him worthy the Observation of 
the Curious." 

In 1754, there was "To be seen at the house of 
Roger Magrah, a Living Allegator, full four feet 
long." In 1755, " Capt. Seymour in the ship. Fame, 
has brought in with him a voung: lioness of about two 



Amusements 



foot high. He likewise had on board two ostriches 
which we are told he brought from the African coast, 
being fowls of that country, but they both died on 
the passage." In 1759, a buffalo and "a wild animal 




Painted and japanned tray and plated soup-tureen, castors and cake-basket. 
See pages 1 i 3 and 165. 

lately from the Mississippi" and in 1769, we read "a 
Tyger to be seen at the King's Arm's Tavern on the 
Green. Price 6c/. 'Tis a very beautiful animal." 
Again it was announced : 

In 1773, "The wonderful electrical fish is exhibited at the 
house of John Rawdon, hairdresser, in Broad St. ; also at Mr. 
22 321 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Allen's stables, near the Fly Market, a remarkable fine young- 
elk. The fish has never (that we know of) been seen in the 
northern parts of America or Europe. Those who choose to 
gratify their curiosity by viewing this very extraordinary pro- 
duction of nature, at the small expense of two shillings each, 
are desired to attend speedily." The elk would receive visitors 
at 6d. for a grown person, and 3d. for a child. 

For several years, Mr. Bonnin gave English pros- 
pects or views. On Dec. 12th he advertised " the first 
eight English prospects and next week the other 
eiofht, which are all that he has as vet shown." On 
Jan. 7, I 749, he promised that he would show seven 
Enirlish cathedrals ; and on the same dav, he an- 
nounced : 

" The great wager depending between some English and 
French gentlemen of this city, viz., whether the English palaces, 
gardens, etc., or the French ones, are the finest and most mag- 
nificent, is to he decided at Mr. Bonnin's room to-morrow if it 
proves good weather by a jury of twelve men who were never 
in Europe. This week twelve views of A'enice not on the 
canals; next week twelve on the canals." The following week 
he gives twelve ships of all sizes in all stations of weather 
"and also prospects of Rome and Naples." 

He understood the art of advertising. In 1748, 
the following was }^rinted : 

" We hear that Mr. Bonnin is so crowded with company to 
view his perspectives that he can scarce get even so much time 
as to eat, drink, or say his prayers, from the time he gets out 
of bed till he repairs to it again ; and it is the opinion of some 
able physician that if he makes rich, it must be at the expense 
of the health of his body; and of some learned divines, that 
it must be at the expense of the welfare of his poor soul \ 
Nay, his own old shipmates, who went a privateering with him, 
swear he would have stood a better chance for a fair wind to 
the haven of rest, and would have come to port with more 



Amusements 



safety had he continued still aboard! They are a sett of sad 
dogs to talk so profanely of such a subject." 

A few weeks later, the j)a|)ers anncnineed : 

" Mr. Bonnin intended to go to-day to Long Island, but 
the people of all ranks and ages crowded to see him in such 
numbers all the week, which encouragement, together with the 
cries, tears and prayers of the populace, as he passes along the 
streets, to continue another week longer in town, have at last 
prevailed upon him to defer his removal till next week." 

"It has now become the daily custom of our ladies of dis- 
tinction to ask their husbands and sweethearts to treat them 
to a walk to Kensington, Hampton Court, ^"aux Hall, Rane- 
lagh House and other grand palaces and gardens in and about 
London, as naturally as if they lived by the Royal l^'.xchange 
or St. Paul's; and, as in good weather they used to do, to treat 
them with a jaunt to Long Island or King's Bridge. To en- 
force their arguments, they insist upon it that there is less 
danger and expence in visiting the former than the latter place, 
and abundance more pleasure and instruction. In short, there's 
nobody can set up the least face for politeness and conversa- 
tion without having been with Mr. Bonnin ; and embellishing 
their discourses with making judicious and elaborate observa- 
tions and criticisms on this, that, and the other building, im- 
provement, or dress. So that instead of our travellers enter- 
taining the ladies with their feigned and confused accounts of 
the fine palaces they have seen in England, the case is quite 
altered; for the ladies correct and often detect their false pre- 
tended description, and entertain them with a just, beautiful 
and regular one." 

Anything of the deseri|)ti()n of a panorama, dis- 
solving views (particularly those that showed foreign 
htiildings and scenery), musical clocks, or micr()scoj)es 
always attracted an audience. Frequently, too, the 
men who owned such devices were bidden to exhibit 
their pictures in private houses, and if the aj)paralus 

323 



Social New York Under the Georges 



could not be remova^d, for a cons-ideration the views 
were shown to a private audience at any hour that 
such exclusive ladies and gentlemen desired. What 
was evidently a diorama was shown in 1747 : 

"At the house of Mr. John Hays at the sign of St. An- 
drew's Cross, near the Fly Market, is to be seen a large moving 
machine or land and water skip, representing many 
things moving nearly imitating nature. N. B. If 
any gentlemen or ladies hath a mind to 
have jirivate view of the same, they may, 
by giving two hours' warning before- 
hand." 

An exhibit that created some- 
thing more than a ripple of 
excitement in the town in 
1756 was heralded in the fol- 
lowing notice: "That cele- 
brated piece of mechanism, 
called the jMicrocosiu or 
World in Miniature, is ex- 
pected in town this day from 
Philadelphia. " Everybody 
went to see it. A poetical 
Mahogany and gilded mir- description of it by an cuthusi- 
ror, originally owned ^g^j^. admirer alouc filled two col- 

bv Ruteer Bleecker, ot r 

, ^^ umns 01 a newspaper. 

Albany ; now bv Mrs. ' ^ 

Wilmot T. Cox'. See - In I /^S- the " Mmiaturc City 

page 98. of Malaga " was shown at the 

house of Mr. Provoost, gunsmith, 

at the price of one shilling ; and in i 764, the town had 

the advantage of seeing "Jerusalem, a view of that 

famous city, after a work of seven years." This " rep- 

324 




Amusements 



resents Jerusalem, the Temple of Solomon, his l^oyal 
Throne, the noted Houses, Towers and 1 1 ills ; likewise 
the Sufferings of our Saviour from the (harden of 
Gethsemane to the Cross on the Hill of Golfjotha ; an 
artful piece of statuary, in which everything is exhib- 
ited in the most natural manner and worthy to he 
seen by the curious." In 1774 mechanical shows are 
offered. The first is : 

" The unparallel'd Musical Clock, made by the great master 
of Machinery David Lockwood. This great curiosity performs 
by Springs only; it is a machine incomparable in its kind; it 
excells all others in the Beauty of its Structure ; it is most 
entertaining in its Music, and plays the choicest Airs from the 
celebrated Operas with the greatest Nicety and Exactness. It 
performs with beautiful Graces, ingeniously and variously in- 
termix'd, the French Horn Pieces, perform'd upon the Organ, 
German and Common Flute, Flageolet, etc., as Sonatas, Con- 
certas, Marches, Minuets, Jiggs, and Scotch Airs, composed l)y 
Corelli, Alberoni, Mr. Handel, and other great and eminent 
Masters of Music." 

The second is thus described : 

" By desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies, The Solar or 
Camera Obscura Microscope which has given such general sat- 
isfaction, and so great a Concourse of Gentlemen and Ladies 
continually attend to see it, is now removed to the House of 
Mr. John Kip in Broad Street, where the Sun will serve all the 
Day long. 

" It is the most entertaining of any Microscope whatsoever, 
and magnifies objects to a most surprising Degree. The Ani- 
malculae in several Sorts of Fluids, with many other living and 
dead Objects too tedious to mention, will be shown incredu- 
lously magnified, and at the same Time distinct, to the entire 
Satisfaction of the Spectators: As the circulation of the Blood 
in a Frog's Foot, a Flea, a Fish's Tail, and in many small In- 
sects, that an Hundred of them will not exceed the Bigness 

325 



Social New York Under the Georges 



of a grain of Sand, with their young in them. This Curiosity 
was never shewn before by any Person that Travels." 

Iluiiiuruus illustrated lectures were also in vogue. 

" By permission of His E.xcellency the Governor, Mr. Wall 
the comedian will exhibit at Mr. Hull's great Room on Wed- 
nesday Evening July 21, 
1773, a new lecture writ- 
ten by the author of the 
much admired Lecture on 
Heads. The Paintings, 
etc., are entirely new and 
never before exhibited in 
America." It seems 
that this was a sort 
of stereopticon, or 
magic lantern ex- 
hibition accompa- 
nied with the usual 
entertaining a n d 
explanatory com- 
ments. It was in 
three parts and the 
excessive head dresses 
of the day were held up 
to ridicule. In the first 
part one of the topics was 
"the sheep's tail maca- 
roni," and this was followed by the " thick stock ditto " and the 
" turn down collar." Among the subjects of the second part were : 
"Ladies Heads in High Taste, Men's Hats,Maccaroni Thanet,and 
Corded Thanet." Part III. included " Ladies High Head Dresses ; 
Artificial Candle Light Face and the appearance of the same Face 
the next morning ; the Grand Secret of Attraction, Two Portraits 
of the Same Lady in a good and ill Humour; Courtship and Matri- 
mony ; Matrimonial Vis-a-vis; and Complete Macaroni." The 
price of each ticket was five shillings. The managers assured 
the public that " Care will be taken to keep the Room cool." 

^26 




Mahoganv card table, owned by Mrs. 
Edward Parke Custis Lewis. See 
page III. 



PART VII 
MANNERS, FOOD AND CULTURE 



PART VII 
MANNERS, FOOD AND CULTURE 



ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Both men and women of the upper classes were 
not only well educated, but were expected to have 
accomplishments. New York was rich in private 
schools and competent teachers. In the schools, 
mathematics, Greek, Latin, and modern languages 
received much attention, and it was usually the cus- 
tom for the wives of school-masters to hold classes 
for young ladies, especially to instruct them in j^lain 




Embroidery of the period in the MiiMiim of the New York Colonial 
Dames. See page 334. 

and fancy needlework and embroidery. A very good 
idea of the ordinarv school course is found as early as 
I 73 1, when "at the House of George Brownell near 
the Custom-House, are taught Reading, Writing, 
Cyphering, Merchants Accomjits, Latin, Greek, etc., 

329 



Social New York Under the Georges 

also Dancing, Plain-Work, Flourishing, Imbroidery 
and \'arious sorts of works. Any persons may be 
taught as private as they please." Languages were 
of the utmost importance, as will be proved by the 
following advertisements : 

"This is to give notice that over against the Sign of the 
lilack Horse, in Smith Street, near the Old Dutch Church, is 
carefully taught the French and Spanish Languages after the 
best method that is now practized in Great Britain." (1735.) 
The terms were twenty shillings the quarter. 

" John William Delisle wants to teach French to Ladies 
and Gentlemen at one pistole per month and six shillings en- 
trance." He naively adds : " I hope I shall repair the character 
of those that are gone away with the public's money." (1749). 

"Anthony Fiva has taught English, French, Spanish and 
Italian for these two years past." (1744.) 

New Yorkers were always abreast of the latest 
European steps and dances. W. C. Hulett was as 
accomplished a dancer and dancing-master as he was 
a violinist, and taught both music and dancing. (See 
page 295). In 1753, he taught dancing and adver- 
tised himself as "late apprentice to Mr. Grenier of 
London, dancing-master." His success justified him 
in opening a Dancing-School in 1 764. This was 
situated in French Church Street, near the Assembly 
Room. In 1775, he was still a fashionable master, 
keeping up with the newest dances, teaching "accord- 
ing to the present taste both in London and Paris," 
the following : " The Louvre ; the Minuet ; Dauj^hine ; 
Risradoon ; Bretas^ne ; Allcmando ; Double Minuet ; 
Minuet by eight; Hornpipes; and the Cotillons and 
English Country-Dances." His chief rival at this 
time was Pietro Sodi, who had established with Biferi 

330 



Manners, food and Culture 



and Cozani an academy for music, dancino- and lan- 
guages. 

TIk'Ic were a number of other daneing-maslers 
and schools ; in many of the latter fencing was taught. 
Mr. Hulett began this fashion. Among the other 
dancing-masters were : John l\i\ers, who opened a 
dancing and fencing school in Stone Street in 1757, 
and kept "a juiblic dance Mondnv evenings " ; Wil- 
liam Turner, who had a dancing and fencing school 
over the Roval Exchange in 1764; Du Poke and De 
St. Pry, who opened a iMcnch, b\'ncing" and Dancing 
Academ\- in Little Dock Street in 1775, where they 
taught " French jigs, hornpipes, cotillons, German 
dances and French country dances of all kinds in the 
most approved and modern taste"; and William 
Tetley, whom we lind in 1775, announcing that "he 
served an apprenticeshij) under Mons. (dierarde, of 
London." He also " paints oil and miniature |)or- 
traits, and teaches drawing." 

To be a graceful and skillful fencer was the ambi- 
tion of every gentleman. Swords were worn and 
whijiped from their scabbards at the slightest provo- 
cation. It was therefore necessary to understand the 
art of defence. Fencing was — and properlv — consid- 
ered one of the best aids to a graceful carriage, ease 
of movement, and courtly manners. Gentlemen could 
take their lessons in the academies, or the teachers 
would wait upon them at their houses. One of the 
best fencing-masters thus drew attention to himself : 

"These are to give notice to all gentlemen who desire to 
learn the right Method and true Art of Defence and pursuit of 
the small sword in its greatest Perfection, and extraordinary 



Social New York Under the Georges 



quick and speedy with all the guard, Parades, Mounts and les- 
sons thereto belonging, fully described, and the best Rule for 
Playing against Artists or Others with Blunts or Sharps; that 
they may be taught the same by me Richard Lyneall, Professor 
and Master of the said Art, who is to be spoke with at the 
House of Mrs. Elizabeth Parmyster in Beaver St. Note, he 
teaches gentlemen either in Private or Publick by the month 
or by the whole." (1756). 

A very accomplished fencer was Peter A^iany who 
attained fashionable patronage. He lived near the 
Exchange and also taught dancing. He informed 
the public that " he has no dancing-room, but will 
teach })rivately at their homes the Minuet to ladies 
and gentlemen in two months' time." In 1769, he 
was still a fashionable teacher of both accomplish- 
ments, which is not astonishing, as he assured his 
patrons that " he teaches in the style of the best 
masters in Europe and their manner is discoverable 
in his scholars." A sword of the period is shown on 
page 263. 

Painting was also an accomplishment. There was 
a Society for Promotins; Arts, and every encourag^e- 
ment was given to artists of the brush and pencil. 
Drawing and painting were taught in the schools and 
teachers gave private lessons. A portrait-painter came 
to New York in 1754, and thus announced himself : 

"Lawrence Kilburn, Limner, just arrived from London ac- 
quaints all gentlemen and ladies inclined to favour him in 
havmg their pictures drawn, that he dont doubt of pleasing 
them in taking a true likeness and finishing the drapery in 
a proper manner, as also in the choice of attitudes suitable 
to each person's age and sex and giving agreeable satis- 
faction, as he has heretofore done to gentlemen and ladies in 
London." 



Mannersy Food and Culture 



He succeeded by means of his portraits and les- 
sons, for in 1765 he says: "At present there is no 
other portrait-painter in this city hut himself." A rival 
portrait-painter was Abraham Delanoy who lived in 
New Dutch Church Street. In 1768, we read that 








Sampler owned by Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild. See page 334. 

John Durand has " from his infancy endeavoured to 
qualify himself in the art of historical painting" and 
"humbly hopes for that encouragement from the 
gentlemen and ladies of this city and province that 
so elegant and entertaining an art has always ob- 
tained from people of the most improved minds." 

Painting on glass was a favourite art dating from 
the early part of the century. In 1745, Gerardus 
Duyckinck taught " any young Gentlemen the Art of 
Drawing with Painting on Glass"; and, in 1753, we 
learn that " By a person lately arrived in this Town, 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Painting upon Glass (commonly called burning upon 
glass) is performed in a neat and curious manner so as 
never to change its colour. Perspective views neatly 
coloured for the Camera Obscura." 

The ladies of our period were as accomplished in 
needlework as in cookery. Plain and fancy sewing 
was always a part of a gentlewoman's education. An 
idea of what w^as taught in a school especially for 
young ladies was shown m 1747, when "in the back 
part of Mr. Benson's Brew-House a school is opened 
to teach young Ladies Reading and Writing, all sorts 
of Needlework and the making of Artificial Flowers." 
Every girl was required to w^ork a sampler. Speci- 
mens, owned by Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild, appear on 
pages 333 and 340. Ladies made many articles for 
their homes and many of the pretty things they wore. 
There were a great number of teachers. In 1731, 

" Martha Gazley late from Great Britain, now in the City 
of New York, Makes and Teacheth the following Curious 
Works, viz. Artificial Fruit and Flowers, and other Wax-Work, 
Nuns-Work, Philligree and Pencil Work upon Muslin, all sorts 
of Needle-Work, and Raising of Paste, as also to Paint upon 
Glass and Transparant for Sconces, with other works. If any 
young Gentlewomen, or others are inclined to learn any or all 
of the above-mentioned curious Works, they may be carefully 
taught and instructed in the same." 

In 1765, Mrs. Thomas Carroll, whose husband had 
a " mathematical school " in Broad Street, taught 
" Young Ladies plain work, samplars, French quilt- 
ing, knoting for Bed Quilts or Toilets, Dresden flow- 
ering on Catgut, shading with silk on worsted or 
Cambrick, Lawn or Holland." A specimen of what 
she was able to teach appears on page 329. 

334 



Manners^ food and Culture 



In 1769, Clementina and Jane Fergusson taught 
" plain needlework, sampler, erowning, Dresden catgut, 
shading in silk on Holland or cambrick and in silk or 
worsted on canvas, as also all sorts of needlework in 
use for dress or furniture." In 1773, Mrs. Cole and 
William and Sarah Long, all from London, were teach- 
ing tambour work in gold and silver and embroidery ; 
and in the next year Mrs. Belton was giving lessons in 
"tapestrv, embroidery, catgut, sprigging of muslin, etc." 

On }xige 273 is shown a small letter-case embroid- 
ered in green and red silk by one of the ladies of the 
day, Mrs. Cornelia Ilaring Jones, who put the date 
1768 upon it. It is owned by her great-great-grand- 
daughter, Mrs. French Ensor Chadwick. Another 
card- or letter-case is shown on page 263. 

Sewing was made attractive. The work-boxes of 
the period were very beautifully made and fitted up 
with compartments and furnished with pretty ivory, 
steel, silver and gold implements of everv kind. On 
page 388 some sewing articles are shown, a set of five 
pieces made of steel, ornamented with gold and silver ; 
a stand with three reels for winding silk u})on, and 
two " sewing-birds " with clamps to fasten them on 
the table. These stand upon a table after a design 
by J. C. Delafosse. Upon the table are also j)laced a 
Vernis Martin box with " Chinoiserie " decoration, a 
silver punch-ladle with ebony handle, and a })air of 
candlesticks. These are in the Museum, Cooj)er Union. 

The needlework of the New York ladies was thus 
very delicate and beautiful : they were not accus- 
comed to do any coarse work that would roughen 
their hands and fatigue their bodies. The high-heeled 

335 



Social New York Under the Georges 

shoe of the aristocratic and wealthy woman was accus- 
tomed to the pedal of the harpsichord, but had slight 
accjuaintance with the spinning-wheel, and her hands 
that could sprig muslin or embroider catgut gauze in 
gold and silver had little knowledge of how to use the 
distaff. It seems that the spinning-wheel was practi- 
cally unknown to the ladies of New York, who were 
quite satisfied to let it keep its proper place. The 
date of the following item is i 769 : 

"Three young Ladies at Huntington on Long Island, 
namely Ermina, Leticia and Sabina, having met together, 
agreed to try their Dexterity at the 
Spinning- \Vheel ; accordingly the next 
morning they sit themselves down, 
and like the Virtuous Woman, put 
their Hands to the Spindle and held 
the Distaff; at Evening they had 26 
Skeins of good Linen Yarn each Skin 
containing 4 ounces, all which were 
the effects of that Day's Work only. 

" N. B. It is hoped that the Ladies 
of Connecticut and Rhode Island, who 
have shown their skill and Industry at 
the spinning-wheel, will be sincerely 
pleased to find their laudable example 
Spinning-wheel owned by SO well imitated in Huntington, and 
the Duane family ; now that it has kindled a spirit of generous 
bv Mrs. Wilmot Town- Emulation in the Ladies of New York 
send Cox. Government; we hope the same Spirit 

will spread thro' the Continent. That 
the Ladies while they vie with each other in Skill and Industry 
in this profitable Employment, may vie with the men, in con- 
tributing to the Preservation and Prosperity of their Country, 
and equally share the Honour of it." 

An old spinning-wheel is reproduced above. 




Manners^ food and Culture 

There were many opjiortunities for rcadino;- and 
buvino; books. In the early jxirt of the eenturv, Wil- 
ham Braclfoid, and latei', IIuLih (iaine, (iarrat Noel 
and James IvivinL^ton, imported nearly ever\thini2: that 
was in vogue in London. It is remarkable to see 
how (juickly the new bocjks aiiived in New \'ork. 
Chambers's I ^iiivcrsal Dictiouarv of all Arts and .SV/- 
<:7/cr was sold bv \Villiam Bradford in 1733. Bibles, 
prayer-books, dictionaries, books on navigation, and 
calendars were always kept in stock ; and the latest 
sensations, with sermons, novels and songs that were 
attracting attention abroatl were alwavs advertised. 

The kind of books that we lind most frequently 
on sale from 1744 to 1751 are : Bibles, Psalters, Testa- 
ments, Primers, Watts's Hymns, Seaman's Kalandars, 
School-l)ooks, .Hsop's Fables, The Pilgrinfs Progress, 
Mrs. Rowe's Devout Exereises, The Aeadeuiv of'Coni- 
pliiiieuts, LaugJi and be Fat, A History of Pirates, 
Reynard the Fox, Pamela, La Jn'lle ^ Issemfily, Claris- 
sa, Peregrine Piekle, Gay's Fables, La Fontaine's Fa- 
l)les, Tom Jones, Heywood's novel, Abercromby's His- 
tory 0/ Scotland, The Speetator, dlie Ladies Library {2) 
vols.), A History of Lh'rds ( 2 vols. ), \^oltaire's L^etters, 
Robin^oji Crusoe, A History of Lhieeaneers, dlie Ara- 
bian Xights Entertainments (6 vols.), Milton's Para- 
dise Lost, Thompson's Seasons, Jdlentine and Orson, 
The JJ7/ole Duty of ALan, etc., etc. 

It would be futile to continue the lists of books 
that were imported or republished by the printers 
and booksellers of New York, for thev include all the 
new Lnglish ])ul)lications. The London magazines 
came in with every ship, — and the Gentleman's J/aga- 
^3 ' 337 



Social New York Under the Georges 

zinc, the Lady s ]\Iagazinc, the London Alagazinc, Lev 
Belle AssanbUe, etc., etc., could l)e purchased by those 
who were not special subscribers. Children were not 
forgotten, for we find books imported for them, espe- 
cially at the Christmas season : " Pretty Books for 
Children;" "Pretty Books for Little Masters and 
Mistresses," constantly appear. In 1767, Garrat Noel 
was good enough to give a list of juvenile literature. 
He informed readers that he had "a very large parcel 
of Mr. Newberry'' s beaiitiful Gilt Pieture books, fo7' 
the Entertainment of /lis old friends, the pretty Mas- 
ters and Alisses of N'ezu York. Among them they 
\n\\\ find : The History of Giles Gingerbread, Esq. ; 
The History of Goody Two Shoes ; A^nrse Triieloves 
Christinas Box and N'eiu Years Gift : The Easter, 
Whitsuntide and J \ilentine's Gift ; The Fairing, or 
Golden Toy: The Little Lottery Book; Be ALrry 
and IJ^ise ; Master Tommy Trapwits ; Jests and 
Poems for Children Six Feet High ; and Royal 
Trimmeri' 

It was evidently the custom for many persons to 
buy their books in cheap covers and to have them 
bound to suit their own taste. As early as 1732, we 
learn that "Joseph Johnson, of the City of New 
York, Book-binder, is now set up Book-binding for 
himself as formerly and lives in Duke Street (com- 
monly called Bayard's Street) near the Old Slip Mar- 
ket ; where all Persons in Town or Country, may 
have their books carefully and neatly new bound, 
either Plain or Gilt Reasonable." 

Persons who borrowed books were not always 
careful to return them. We read in i 748 and i 749 : 

338 



Manners, Food and Culture 

" The she-person that has borrowed Mr. Tho. Brown's 
works from a gentleman she is well acquainted with, is desired 
to return them speedily." 

" The person that so ingeniously borrowed Sir Isaac New- 
ton's works out of my printing office is earnestly desired to 
return them speedily, they being none of my property." 

Again, in i 763, some one sends the following to 
the papers : 

" Lent to some persons who have too much modesty to 
return them unasked — The first volume of Swift's works of a 
small edition. The ninth volume of the Critical Review. One 
volume of Tristram Shandy, and the first part of Candid. 
The owner's arms and name in each, who will be much obliged 
to the borrowers for the perusal of the above books when they 
have no further use for them." 

There were two ijood libraries in the citv. The 
oldest was the Society Library. On Oct. 21, 1754, 
the following notice was printed : 

" Notice is hereby given to the proprietors of the New 
York Society Library that the books belonging to that library, 
lately imported, are placed for the present, by leave of the 
Corporation, in their library room in the City Hall; and that 
the same will be open twice in every week — i. e. on Tuesdays 
and Fridays from the hours of ten to twelve, when constant 
attendance will be given. The terms established by the trust- 
ees for the loan of books to non-subscribers are : to deposite 
in the hands of the librarian one third more than the value of 
the book borrowed, till it shall be returned, and to pay for 
the use of same when returned, as follows, viz : For a folio 
size, one month, 4^'., for a quarto size, one month, is., octavo 
or lesser vol., one month, \s. (one shilling per diem exceeding 
one month)." 

Another circulating library owed its existence to 
the enterprise of Garrat Noel, the bookseller, who 
opened a library " consisting of several thousand vol- 

339 



Social New York Under the Georges 




umes" in 1763, next door to the Merchant's Coffee 
House. In 1765, he advertised: "All persons that 

choose to spend their leisure 
hours in reading may be 
supplied from this 
source of laudable 
amusement a whole 
year at the easy rate 
of four dollars." 

It may be interest- 
ing now to read a 
contemporary criti- 
cism of one of the 
popular novels of the 
day, written without 
any idea that it 
would be read save 
by the person to 
whom it was ad- 
dressed. This is con- 
tained in a letter dated June 29, 1743, and was 
written to his sister, Mary Parker, by Elisha Parker 
(see pages 302-'3), who sent the last two volumes of 
Pamela : 

" They are books that have been generally well esteemed 
of and read by your part of the world especially. I think 'em 
by far the most proper book of any I ever saw for the youth 
of both, but especially of your sex. Virtue is there painted in 
such lively and amiable colours with such great rewards 
attending it and the bad and its consequences of a vicious 
course of life so well described that it can't but deeply fix in 
the mind of an unprejudiced reader a lasting love of the one 
and utter abhorance of the other. I have too good an opinion 

340 



Sampler owned by Mrs. Charles S. Fair 
child. See page 334. 



Manner/^ Food and Culture 



of you to think the assistance of books is wanted. However, 
the more virtuously inclined the mind of any person is, the 
more will it delight in hearing of virtue praised and this with 
the advantage that it will be got by reading a stde so beautikil 
and natural as the stile of Paiiiclay 




Effigy ot Mr. Rivington, the Torv printer, hung in 
New Brunswick. (^1774.) 



341 



II 

FOOD FROM THE FIELDS AND THE SEA 

Ix former pages, the importance of kitchen gar- 
dens and orchards has been fully disclosed in the ac- 
counts of houses and estates for sale or lease. Fruits 
and vegetables were raised in large quantities from 
the earliest times. When the Dutch settled here, 
thev brought with them their favourite salads, roots, 
greens, and fruits. They also found indigenous vege- 
tables and fruits which they gladly cultivated and 
cooked. As good beer could be made here as at 
home, for wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn were 
raised in profusion, while good hops grew wild in the 
woods. 

\Vild fruits that the land produced in great abun- 
dance included grapes of many varieties, mulberries, 
cherries, currants, plums, gooseberries, medlars, bil- 
berries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries and straw- 
berries in such profusion that people lay down in the 
fields and gorged themselves with them. Edible nuts 
that enriched the sylvan ways were sweet acorns, 
chestnuts, beechnuts, walnuts, butternuts, and hazel- 
nuts. Other wild products of which the settlers 
availed themselves were pignuts, artichokes, leeks, 
onions, peas, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, water- 
melons, squash and other gourds. 

The Dutch and English brought native seeds for 

342 



Manners, Food and Culture 

herbs and salads. We therefore find their o;ardens 
well SLippHed witli beans, peas, turnips, cabbages, 
parsnips, carrots, beets, endive, succory, sorrel, dill, 
spinach, radishes, parsley, chevril (or sweet cicely), 
cress, onions, leeks, laurel, artichokes, asparagus, rose- 
mary, lavender, hyssop, thyme, sage, marjoram, balm ; 
holy onions, wormwood, belury, chives, clary, pimper- 
nel, dragon's blood, five-finger, and tarragon. The 
pumpkin, despised at home, was held in high esteem 
in New York in very early days, where the English 
used it for pies. They also made a beverage from it. 
Gardeners were in demand for useful even more 
than ornamental service. Advertisements of seeds 
by the Fort gardener and others were common, and 
seeds imported bv merchants were also often an- 
nounced. From these we see what a great variety of 
the different herbs, roots, and esculents were culti- 
vated. In March, 1775, we find a long list of seeds 
advertised. These consisted of many varieties of cab- 
bage, salad, carrot, spinach, turnip, endive and parsley ; 
besides Italian broccoli, best Dutch cauliflower and 
cucumber ; Zealand, blood -red, French white, and 
great Spanish onions ; long, white and red radishes ; 
"ramanarse," suckerye, rosemary, artichokes, parsnips, 
peppergrass, caraway, Winter leeks, Summer do., red 
beet, Dutch celery, great Flemish do., ketchup, thyme, 
fattacouse and several other sorts of seed. The varie- 
ties of cabbage seed were early great Battersea, flat 
white Brunswick, low brown head, Utrecht head, 
high l)rown curled, high green curled, fine blood-red, 
red head, early white, yellow Bloom ingdale, low green 
curled, great Amsterdam savoy, and green savoy. The 

343 




Part of pictorial almanac (ly^z'); originallv owned by Governor ^'\'illiam 

Livingston. Now in the Museum of the New York Colonial Dames. 

See pages 346—7. 



Manners, Food and Culture 



" salad " seeds were Swedish, great yellow, large brown, 
ofreat Berlin, small red, orcat Mo(2:ul, Si)anish, sneckkHl, 
vcUow stone, small yellow, {)rinces, cut head, large 
.Vmsterdam, sour, curled cut and early cut. The 
varieties of carrot were parsley, long yellow, long red, 
earlv, great yellow, schonanul and sugar carrot. Tiie 
kinds of sj)inach were broad-leaved, round, sinaU, and 
sour; then there were broaddeaved, curled and broad 
curled endive ; and yellow Dutch, green, curled and 
French parsley. The varieties of turnip included 
yellow, white, earl}', cabbage, above-ground, under- 
ground, lonQT French and white. 

Fruits were cultivated with equal assiduity. The 
best English and Dutch stocks were imj^orted, and 
when possible grafted on the native trees to }M-oduce 
new and hardy varieties. The consequence was that 
in many cases New York orchards lost nothing by 
comparison with the best in Europe. The natural ad- 
vantages of soil and climate enabled the local nursery- 
man to raise pomoloov to a rare dcOTce of excellence. 
In 1769, for example, JJllliaui Pj-incc, of Flushing, 
had the following varieties of fruit trees : 

E//i;-//s// clicrrics : ^[ay Dukes, Black, White, Bleeding, Am- 
ber hearts and Red hearts, Coronations, Honey, Kentish, Maz- 
erine, Morello cherry. 

Nectarines : The Fair Child Early, Large Green Clingstone, 
Yellow, Yellow Roman, Red Roman, Elruge, Temples, Brugnon 
or Italian. 

Pliiins : Green Gage, Yellow Egg (as big as a hen's tg^. 
White Sweet do. (bigger), Orleans do. (very large and fine), 
Imperatrice, Red Imperial, ^\■hite Imperial, Drap dT)r, Royal, 
Apricot, White Bona Magnum, Yilet Pardegel, Red Diepper, 
Whiteten, Jean Hative, Precose Deture, Fotherings, Perdigron, 

345 



Social New York Under the Georges 

White Perdigron, Damis Vilet, La Prune Valure, Brig Nole, 
Carline, White Damson, Large Red Sweet, Large Holland, 
Early Sweet Damson, Late Sweet Damson. 

Apricots: Large Early, Large French Brussels, Breda, 
Orange, Masculine, Bloucht, Algier, Roman, Turkey, Small 
Sweet. 

Fcac/ics : Rare Ripe, Early Nutmeg (ripe in July), Old New- 
ington, New Newington, Large Early, Large Early Clingstone, 
Large Red Clingstone (weighs from ii to 15 oz.), Yellow Cling- 
stone called the Carolina Canada (weighs i lb.), Barcelona Yel- 
low Clingstone, Murketong, Large Red Stone (10 to 15 oz.), 
Large Yellow Clingstone (ripe Oct. 15th, 10 to 12 oz.), Large 
White, do. (14 oz.), Large Lemon, do., English Double Rose, 
Large Yellow Malagatune, Large Yellow Winter Clingstone, 
Large White Stone, White Winter Clingstone, Blood Peach, 
Carolina Red Cheek Malagatune, ^^'estern Newington, Eliz- 
abeth, Yellow Catharine. 

Pears: Burgamot, Catharine, Yergalue, July, Monsieur 
Jean, Tromp Valet, French Primitive, Winter Bon Chretien, 
Easter Burgamot, Amber, Chaumontel, Russelet, Early Sugar, 
Burie Vert, Winter Burie, Burie de Roy, Green Chizell, Swan's 
Egg, Colmar, Crassan, Spanish Bon Chretien, Large Bell, Citron 
de Camis, Summer Burgamot, Autumn Burgamot, Brocause Bur- 
gamot, Winter Burgamot, Hampden's Burgamot, Ammerzell, 
Lent Sangermain, Gergenell, Rouselon, Cuffe Madam, Green 
Catharine, La Chasserie, Yourdal's Sangermain, Orange, Large 
Winter (near 21 lbs.), Pear Wardens, Empress, Large Summer 
Baking. 

Apples : Newtown Pippins, White Pippins, Large Pippins, 
Golden Pippins, ^F^sopus Spitzenburgh, Newtown Spitzenburgh, 
Pearmains, Vandevels, Large Red and Green (ripe at Midsum- 
mer, weighs over i lb.), Genneting, Bow, English Codlin, Red 
Streaks, Jersey Greens, Golden Rennets, Russitons, Lady, Non 
Parrel, Lidington, Rhode Island Greening, Swar, Large White 
Sweeting, Bell Flower." 

Some of the names of these varieties appear be- 
neath an almanac shown on page 344. Upon this 

346 



Manners, Food and Culture 

is written, " From tiie collection of Robert Fur- 
ber, Gardener at South Kensing^ton, 1732, and 
sold by Thomas Bakewell, Birchin Lane, Cornhill, 
London. This hung in the state dining-room in 
Elizabeth, N. J." 

Not content with what their own orchards could 
sup})ly, rich New Yorkers imported the fruits of 
the West Indies. Pineapples were regularly on the 
market. \Vatermelons were early taken into favour. 
Kalm says: "The watermelons which are cultivated 
near the town grow very large ; they are extremely 
delicious and are better than in other parts of North 
America, though they are planted in the open fields 
and never in a hot-bed. T saw a water-melon at Gov- 
ernor Clinton's in September, 1750, which weighed 
forty-seven English pounds, and at a merchant's in 
town another of forty-two pounds weight ; however, 
they were reckoned the biggest ever seen in this 
country." In August, 1774, an item read: "A water- 
melon was last week cut at a gentleman's table in this 
city that grew in his own garden on this island, tiiat 
weighed no less than 50 lbs." 

The fish caught in the fresh waters of New York 
province from the earliest days were salmon, sturgeon, 
striped bass, drums, shad, carp, perch, pike, trout, 
thick-heads, suckers, sunfish, catfish, eels, lampreys, 
divers, mullets, or frost-fish. The sea-food comprised 
cod, weakfish, halibut, herring, mackerel, thornback, 
flounders, plaice, bream, blackfish. lobsters, oysters, 
crabs, mussels, periwinkles, shrim})s, lobsters, clams, 
turtles, and porpoises. Sturgeon were i:)lentiful in the 
Hudson, but only the small size was eaten. The roe 

347 



Social New York Under the Georges 

was highly prized for caviare by the English. Stur- 
geon was also pickled for market. In 1765, John 
Alexander cSl Co. advertised New York jMckled 
sturgeon and vaunted its superiority " both as to the 
quality of the fish and the richness of the pickle." 

Coenties Slip Market (^established 1691) was the 
Billingsgate of New York, and was known as the 
Great Fish Market. In 1721, Josiah Ouincy peti- 
tioned the Corporation " for land at or near Kings- 




Wine bottles and glasses and copper tea-kettle ; now in the Museum ot the 
New York Colonial Dames. See piages i6^ and 164. 

bridge to erect a tisherv, with libertv to fish in the 
river at that place ; and ])roposes to supplv the mar- 
kets at New York wdth fish ver}^ fresh and at very 
easy rates, and in pavment, rendering therefore yearly 
on every fourteenth dav of October to this Corpora- 
tion a good dish of fresh fish." Five vears later, the 
General Assembly granted to Lewis De Langloiserie 
the sole right to the porpoise fishery within this 
province for ten years. 

Shell-fish were particularly esteemed. This sea- 

348 ' 



Manners, Food and Culture 

food was always plentiful. Durino;- the Dutch rule, 
writers had remarked the abundance and excellence 
of lobsters, crabs, periwinkles, oysters, clams, mussels, 
shrimps and turtles. Some of the lobsters were enor- 
mous " being from five to six feet in length ; others 
again are from a foot to a foot and a half long, which 
are the best for the table." Most important of all 
shell-fish was the oyster, very extensive beds of which 
existed in the adjacent waters. The oysters, lobsters 
and other fish were to be found at the very doors of 
many of the countrv-seats on this island and the 
islands in the bav. The ]HX)visions afforded by Na- 
ture have ajipeared in some advertisements already 
quoted. The following appears in 1772 : 

" Little Bern Island at public auction, belonging to the estate 
of Mr. St. Cieorge Talbot, deceased, situate opposite New Har- 
lem Church, in the out-ward of this City, containing upwards 
of one hundred acres of land and meadows. It abounds with 
wild fowl, as ducks, geese, pidgeons, quails, etc., and has the 
advantage of a fine seine fishery, and black-fish, oysters, lob- 
sters, etc. Being in the vicinity of New York, the produce 
may be brought to the Fly Market with the tide of ebb, and the 
flood will waft the craft home." 

New York oysters were always very fine. They 
were eaten raw, and cooked in almost as many ways 
as they are to-day. Moreover, every good hotel had 
pickled oysters on its bill of fare ; and they were ex- 
ported in large quantities. In 1774, Abraham Dela- 
noy announced that he " jMckles oysters and lobsters ; 
and puts up fried oysters so as to keep a considerable 
time even in a hot climate." In i 753, a writer tes- 
tified : 

349 



Social New York Under the Georges 

"Though we abound in no one kind of fish sufficient for a 
staple, yet such is our happiness in this article that not one of 
the colonies affords a fish market of such a plentiful variety as 
ours. Boston has none but sea-fish, and of these Philadelphia 
is entirely destitute, being only furnished with the fish of a 
fresh water river New York is sufficiently supplied with both 
sorts. Nor ought our vast plenty of oysters to pass without 
particular observation ; in their quality they are exceeded by 
those of no country whatever. People of all ranks amongst 
us in general prefer them to any other kind of food. Nor is 
anything wanting, save a little of the filings of copper, to ren- 
der them equally relishing, even to an English palate, with the 
best from Colchester. They continue good eight months in 
the year, and are for two months longer the daily food of our 
poor. Their beds are within view of the town, and I am in- 
formed that an oysterman, industriously employed, may clear 
eight or ten shillings a day." 

In I 7/1, attention was called to the law to prevent 
the giving or selling of unripe fruit and oysters within 
the city of New York. There was a ^3 penalty for 
bringing in oysters during May, June, July and Au- 
gust. 

Terrapin was eaten here two centuries and a half 
ago. New Yorkers of the Eighteenth Century were 
as fond as a London alderman of turtle. The Rev. 
Mr. Burnahy notes : "There are several houses pleas- 
antly situated upon the East River wiiere it is com- 
mon to have turtle feasts ; these happen once or twice 
a week. Thirty or forty gentlemen and ladies meet 
to dine together, drink tea in the afternoon, fish, and 
amuse themselves till evening, and then return home 
in Italian chaises — a gentleman and lady in each chaise. 
In the way there is a bridge, about three miles distant 
from New York which you always pass over as you 

350 



Manners, food and Culture 

return, called the Kissing Bridge, where it is a part of 
the etiquette to salute the lady who has ])ut herself 
under your protection." This bridge was over De 
Voor's mill-stream, about Fifty-third Street between 
Second and Third Avx^nues. 

The arrival of shad in April was always welcomed. 
Several large catches of this fish are recorded. Thus 
on April 19, I 756, we read : " On last Thursday, 5,751 
shad were caught at one draught on the west side of 
Long Island." A week later, the editor notes : 

" The end of last week on the departure of most of His 
Majesty's forces, fresh beef was sold in our markets at (yd. per 
pound by the whole quarter. This seemed to be a gloomy 
prospect for many poor who buy from hand to mouth ; but that 
Being who careth for them, happily sent in a few days large 
supplies of fish ; and on Thursday last, Mr. Bernard Johnson 
on Long Island, caught 5,700 shad at one hawl of a sein, be- 
sides large numbers of several other hawls; and the next day 
sold the greater part of them in our markets." A still greater 
catch is noticed on April 21st, 1774: "Last Tuesday morning 
9,000 shad were caught in the seines of Mr. Justice Cortelyou 
at the Narrows." 

Bass also were sometimes caught in large quanti- 
ties. Thus, March 21, 1765 : "On Saturday last were 
brought to town near 2,000 fine bass taken up in the 
North River near the Highlands, being much fresher 
and better than those usually brought from Long 
Island, which are not so soon brought to market after 
they are taken." For some years, the fishing trade 
languished after 1 760, so that to encourage it the 
General Assembly passed an Act in 1773, granting 
^200 per annum for five years in premiums "for the 
better supplying the markets of the City with fish." 

351 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Ray and skate were excepted, and special premiums 
were offered for mackerel, sheepshead and cod. The 
next year dried herrings were added to the list. In 
1 771, some Albany men stocked the Hudson with 
salmon, and a law was passed here providing a j)enalty 
of /^5 for the offence of catching a salmon in Hudson 
waters and tributaries for five years. 

The quiet waters of the harbour were frequently 

visited by sharks and whales, whose arrival is noted 

in the newspapers. In September, 

1764, for instance: "Monday a 

shark ten feet long was taken at 

the New Dock a very few 

yards from the shore ; " and 

in October, 1773: "Several 

w .— «,^ .g days last week, a consider- 

^ fi able large whale was seen 

in the North as well as 
the East River of this City." 
It will have been noticed 
that every house fit for habi- 
tation had its cellar, the capac- 
ity for wine storage of which 
was sometimes given. Not- 
withstanding the consumption 
^, ---=-—-' of coffee and chocolate as bever- 

Chocolate pot (1786) 

owned by Mrs. Douglas ^^S^^, and the great vogue of tea, 
Robinson. See page yet hard drinking was the rule 
152. rather than the exception here 

as in England. Every gentle- 
man had his cellar well stored with the wines of Bor- 
deaux, Burgundy, Rhenish Prussia, Spain, Portugal, 

352 




Manners^ Food and Culture 

and especially the Azores and Canary Islands. The 
latter included Cape, Madeira, Fayal, Vidonia and 
Canary. When Governor Burnet died, in 1729, his 
cellar contained more than twelve hundred bottles 
and flasks of wine, besides a pipe of Madeira and a 
quarter cask of Fayal. 

Governor Burnet's table was well supplied with 
continental brands, particularly French and Rhine 
wines. The average cellar of the day contained a 
much greater proportion of island wines ; indeed 
Madeira was the most popular wine for a century and 
a half. This was the wine in which toasts were usu- 
ally drunk, and that in which the health of the King 
was drunk when guests gathered at the Fort and else- 
where on His Majesty's birthday. 

Beer was imported in large quantities both in 
cask and bottle. Bottled Taunton ale, York and Bris- 
tol beer, and London ales were on sale. Liqueurs, 
or "cordial waters" were also drunk in large quanti- 
ties, and of these there were a great variety. Among 
the latter we find Clove Water, Orange Water, Car- 
raway Water, Geneva, Rosa Solis, Usquebaugh (in- 
cluded among French liqueurs), Essence of Tea, 
Essence of Coffee, Anise, Free Mason's Cordial, Par- 
faite Amour, Oil of Venus, Oil of Hazelnuts, Berga- 
mot, and many others. 

In 1766, Richard Deane, distiller from Ireland, 
had for sale at his distillery on Long Island, near the 
Ferry : Aniseed W^ater, Orange Water, Clove Water, 
All Fours, or the Cordial of Cordials, Nutmeg Water, 
Red Ratafie, Golden Cordial, Royal Usquebaugh, 
Plain ditto. Royal Water, Cordial of Health, Cinna- 
'^ 353 



Social New York Under the Georges 



mon Water, Cardamun Water, Angelica Water, Aqua 
Coelestis, or Heavenly Water, Ros Soils, Stoughton's 
Elixir, Aqua Mirabilis, or Wonderful Water, besides 
Irish Whisky, Brandy and Rectified Spirits of Wine. 
It is somewhat astonishing to count the generous 
number of toasts drunk at the various society fes- 
tivities. Twenty was a modest list. When Captain 
McDougal received forty-five friends who visited him 
in gaol in February, 1770, they dined on 45 lbs. of 
steak and drank 45 toasts each. The appeal for 
temperance was sometimes heard. In 1749, a paper 
published a " warning to those who indulge im- 
moderately in the pleasure of Madeira." In 1764, 
another writer complained that " Rum, tea and sugar 
now become habitual and necessary to all ranks of 
people, will considerably rise in their price, and also 
wines which some think are become more necessary 
than ever to keep up our spirits." 




" Abraham Delanoy, Oysters and Lobsters." (1774.) 



354 



Ill 

MARKETS AND COOKERY 

Owners of country-seats could bountifully supply 
their tables from their own possessions with dairy 
produce, fruits, vegetables, flesh, fowl and sometimes 
with fish also. For the rest of the community, there 
were public markets to which the country people of 
Staten Island, New Jersey, and Long Island brought 
provisions every day. Kalm says that as he was sail- 
ing up the North River in i 748 : 

" All the afternoon, we saw a whole fleet of little boats, 
returnhig from New York whither they had brought provisions 
and other goods for sale ; which, on account of the extensive 
commerce of this town, and the great number of its inhabitants, 
go off very well. During eight months of the year, this river 
is full of yachts and other greater and lesser vessels, either 
going to New York or returning from thence, laden either with 
inland or foreign goods. The country people come to market 
in New York twice a week much in the same manner as they 
do in Philadelphia; with this difference — that the markets are 
kept in several places." 

Poultry and game were always plentiful and good. 
Wild geese and ducks, and other water-fowl w^ere 
very abundant. During their migration in Spring 
and Autumn, dense flocks of pigeons sometimes 
darkened the sky. In April, 1754, the public were 
informed : " We had such great quantities of pidgeons 
in our markets last week, that no less then six were 
sold for one old penny." 

355 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Outside the markets, no shops existed where meat, 
fish, or fruit was offered for sale. But, in 1763, 
" Hyam Myers at the Sign of the Poulterers in 
Broad Street, near the City Hall takes this method 
to inform the public that he intends to keep a proper 

poulterer's shop in the same 
manner as they are kept in 
London." 

With few exceptions, 
the authorities required all 
perishable provisions to be 
sold in the markets. There 
were many regulations for 
the benefit of the citizens. 
In 1 73 1, a law stated that 
as the city was chiefly pro- 
visioned by the country 
people coming by water 
from the neighbouring 
counties and colonies, who 
arrived at different times 
and seasons as the tides, 
winds and weather permit- 
ted, for which reason no 
certain dates could be con- 
veniently appointed for 
holding the markets with- 
out injury to both buyers 
and sellers, therefore every day except Sunday was to 
be a market day, from sunrise to sunset. 

The places appointed were " at the market-house 
at the Slip, commonly called Counties Dock, at the 

356 




Dutch cabinet owned by Mrs. F. 
H. Bosvvorth. See page i 22. 



Manners, Food and Culture 



market-house at the Old Slip, commonly called Bur- 
gers Path, at the market-house at the lower end of 
Wall Street, commonly called Wall Street Market 
House, and at the Market House at or near Countess 
Key, commonly called Countesses Slip." Since the 
markets were principally intended for the benefit of 
housekeepers who bought for their own use, hucksters 
and retailers were not allowed to go to the markets 
to make their purchases till the afternoon. Fore- 
stalling was strictly prohibited. Penalities were pro- 
vided against the exposure for sale of bad or stale 
meat, or other food. Butter in pounds, rolls, pots, 
dishes, or other vessels, not exceeding six pounds, 
w^as to have its weight stamped upon it. If any 
fraud was discovered, the butter was forfeited to the 
poor. All weights and measures were to be sealed, 
and the clerk of the market was to receive one penny 
for sealing each piece. Severe weather sometimes 
prevented supplies from reaching the market, and then 
prices naturally rose. On Febry. 9th 1 747, we read : 

" The deplorable circumstances this city is under, from a 
long service of cold and freezing weather, is matter of concern 
to all. This now not only hinders our foreign navigation 
{and so consequently prevents news) but occasions our fire- 
wood to be so scarce and dear as was never equalled here 
before; the price being from 40 to 58 sh. a cord and almost 
half the inhabitants in want. Provisions also are excessive 
dear; a good turkey, which scarcely ever before exceeded 35. 
6d. has lately been sold for 5^-. a fat fowl for is. 6d. a pound of 
butter for 14^/. and many other things proportionable. Under 
all these disadvantages, what must our poor suffer?" 

In 1740, an Act declared that "of late years great 
numbers of Negroes, Indians and Mulattoes, slaves, 

357 



Social New York Under the Georges 

have made it a common practice of buying, selling 
and exposing to sale, not only in houses, out-houses, 
and yards, but likewise on the public streets, great 
quantities of boiled Indian corn, peas, peaches, apples, 
and other kinds of fruit ; which pernicious practice is 
not only detrimental to their owners because of neg- 
lect of service, but is also productive of infectious 
diseases." Offenders in future were to be publicly 
whipped. 

Milk was one of the articles excepted from the 
necessity of being sold in the public markets. It was 
usually carried from house to house in big pails sus- 
pended from a yoke resting on the shoulders, as is still 
often done in England. 

In 1763, provisions had become too dear to suit 
the authorities ; and, so to the great discontent of 
butchers and others, an Assize of Victuals was en- 
acted. This ordered that " No kind of provisions or 
victuals are to be sold anywhere but in the common 
Market Houses of this city (except live fish, bread, 
flour, salted beef, salted pork, butter, milk, hog's lard, 
oysters, clams and muscles) under the penalty of ^40 
for each offence." No huckster may buy to sell again 
before 1 1 a. m. (^3 penalty). Following this appeared 
a list of fixed prices for a good number of articles. 

A correspondent signing himself Plchcamis said : 

"There was never a more just or necessary law. The im- 
positions of the butchers and the extravagant demands of 
some of the neighouring country people have loudly called for 
redress, and must soon have proved to the poorer sort abso- 
lutely ruinous. As to the affront offered to the dignity of the 
butchers, and the airs they assume on the occasion, I doubt 

358 



Manners, Food and Culture 



not they will soon be made sensible that the law is not like 
a sirloin, to be rescinded with broad-ax and cleaver; and 
should they refuse to continue their business on the law's tak- 
ing place, 1 hope the gentlemen of the city will not hesitate a 
moment to raise an adequate sum by subscription to supply 
the market at a lower rate than that prescribed by the ordi- 
nance; upon which the Corporation 'tis hoped will instantly 
turn every butcher's stall out of the market, nor ever suffer 
them to be replaced till after suitable proofs of contrition and 
remorse. For we have really been imposed upon by one of 
the most impudent combinations that was ever suffered among 
a free and thinking people. Was it not astonishing and beyond 
all human tolerance that beef should be sold from y*/. to Zd. 
per lb. when it might be offered for yL and \J. and yield a 
sufficient profit ? Cattle were perhaps never plentier or cheaper 
in the country than the greater part of the time during which 
this exorbitant price has been exacted." 

This law excited a mutiny among the butchers, 
and, after further consideration, the prices of butter, 
milk, and meats were slightly raised. An interesting 
light is cast upon the marketing manners of the day 
(1763) by the letter of a lady who complained : 

" I have frequently observed, and sometimes felt, great 
rudeness and ill manners in our public markets ; especially 
when any kind of provision appeared of which there was a 
scarcity. I have seen people press and shove with such rude- 
ness and violence as sufficiently showed an intention truly hos- 
tile and that force alone could determine the purchasers; and 
sometimes the prey has been seized and in danger of being torn 
to pieces by two furious combatants, equally voracious, who 
seemed by their actions to be upon the point of starving and 
to contend for their lives. I, who am a woman unused to war 
and of a peaceable disposition, have been obliged to give up 
my pretensions to the goods, half-purchased, and give place to 
one of more strength and resolution, being not cjuite reduced 
to the necessity of fighting or starving. 

359 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" All that are weak and peaceable like myself have been ex- 
cluded from purchasing in the market by rudeness and force. 
It is to be hoped that persons guilty of such misbehaviour 
need only to be told of it to avoid it, and, as they value their 
own liberty, not encroach upon that of their neighbours. Such 
conduct has also a direct tendency to raise the price of provi- 
sions in the market to the extravagant price that we all have 
had reason to complain of." 

Some dealers were none too scrupulous at times. 
The authorities kept a close watch on " blown " meat 
and other provisions that were dishonestly manipu- 
lated. Three examples follow : 

" Saturday morning last, several parcels of butter were 
seized in the Fly Market for being deficient in weight ; al- 
though it was sold for i8^/. per lb." (1762.) 

" A quantity of bad butter was seized in our market be- 
longing to one Mr. Rosea of Staten Island. The rolls were 
very artfully cased over with excellent fresh butter, and the 
inside so bad that it was fit for no other use than the soap 
tub." (1763-) 

" Some days ago, nine pigs were seized in the Fly Market 
as perfect carrion, which on the mayor's view were sentenced 
to be burnt publicly on the common, and the owner of them 
fined 40/. The sentence was immediately put in execution and 
part of the fine taken to purchase wood to burn them with." 
(1768.) 

The markets thus being so well supplied, and 
their gardens, orchards, fields and meadows producing 
whatever they required, the New York gentry's tables 
were provided with all the delicacies of the season. 
Great attention was paid in the kitchen to the culi- 
nary art, and good cooks were in great demand. 
Some of the advertisements show that black men 
as well as white women ruled in that domain, and, 

^60 



Manners, Food and Culture 

in contemporary phrase, could " send up a number of 
dishes." 

Cooking' was reckoned among the accomplish- 
ments of the day, and ladies, as well as housekeepers, 
were expected to know everything about preparing 
choice dishes, the making of jellies and other sweets 
and in settins: and servino; the table. For those who 




China horses owned by Mrs. F. H. Bosworth. See page 121. 

had not the advantages of home-training, there were 
three valuable books published and sold in 1761 by 
Hugh Gaine at the Bible and Crow^n, Hanover 
Square. The first was T/ic Director, or Yoitng 
Woman s Best Companion, and contained " about 
three hundred Receipts in Cookery, Pastry, Preserv- 
ing, Candying, Pickling, Collaring, Physick and 
Surgery." It also gave instructions for marketing, 
directions for carving and " Bills of Fare for Every 
Month in the year." The second was The Complete 

361 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Hoiiseivife, or AccomplisJid Gentlciuonians Companion^ 
and contained " upwards of six hundred of the most 
approved Receipts of Cookery, Pastry, Confectionery, 
Preserving-, Pickles, Cakes, Creams, Jellies, Made 
Wines, Cordials, with Copper Plates curiously En- 
graven for the regular Disposition or placing of the 
various Dishes and Courses, and also Bills of Fare for 
every month in the year," The third was even more 
exhaustive. It was called TJic Bi^itish Houscivifc, or 
the Cook, Housekeeper and Gardiner s Companion cal- 
culated for tJie Service both of London and the Coun- 
try. In addition to its receipts and bills of fare, it 
gave directions for carving and " the polite and easy 
manner of doing the Honours of the Table," and also 
explained fully the " Order of setting out Tables for 
Dinners, Suppers, and Grand Entertainments in a 
Method nev^er before attempted." 

In these books, a great deal of space was given to 
the preparation of wines, cordials, shrubs, and other 
agreeable drinks. Ladies in the Eig-hteenth Centurv 
did not scorn to brew a punch, egg-nog, or posset. 

In 1/43, ^^^^^^ JJ'eekly Post-Boy gives "A Receipt 
for all Young Ladies that are going to be married, 
to make a Sack Posset." 

"From tam"d Barbados on the western Main 
Fetch sugar haU' a pound ; fetch Sack from Spain 
A Pint, and from the Eastern Indian Coast 
Nutmeg, the Glor^' of our Northern Toast. 
O'r flaming Coals together let them heat, 
Till the all conquering Sack dissolve the Sweet. 
O'er such another Fire set Eggs twice ten. 
New born from foot of Cock and Rump of Hen ; 
Stir them with steady Hand, and Conscience pricking, 
To see th' untimely Fate of Twenty Chicken. 
^.62 



Manners^ Food and Culture 



From shining Shelf take clown your brazen Skillet, 
A quart of milk from gentle Cow will till it. 
When boil'd and cool'd put Milk and Sack to Egg, 
Unite them firmly like the triffle League ; 
Then covered close, together let them dwell 
Till Miss twice sings — You must not Kiss and tell. 
Each Lad and Lass snatch up their murdering Spoon, 
And fall on fiercely like a Starved Dragoon." 

The ingredients of elaborate dishes were readily 
obtainable in the city shops, for the groceries of the 
day were almost as varied as now. All kinds of 
spice, candied and dried fruits, pre- 
serves and pickles, both imported 
and native, were procurable. In 
1730, Nicholas Bayard erected a 
sugar-refinery : " At which Refin- 
ingf-House all Persons in citv and 
Country may be supplied by 
Wholesale and Retail with 
both double and single Re- 
fined Loaf-Sugar, as also 
Powder and Shop - Sugars, 
and Sugar-Candy at Reason- 
able Rates." 

Among innumerable arti- 
cles of this class offered for 
sale may be mentioned : 
pickled mushrooms in quart 
bottles, pickled onions from 
London, choice lemons, 

ground ginger, sweet oil, Florence oil by the bettee, 
anchovies, capers, olives, catchup, red herrings, citron, 
pickled herrings, Turkey figs, Lisbon lemons, cur- 

363 




Chippendale chair ; in the Mu- 
seum for the Art of Decora- 
tion, Cooper Union. 



Social New York Under the Georges 

rants, China oranges, East India mangoes, Englisli 
walnuts and jar raisins. 

The following typical advertisement will show 
that the shopkeepers were accustomed to supply the 
demands of delicate palates, and that the tables of the 
well-to-do displayed no Spartan simplicity : 

" To be sold, wholesale and retail, by William Keen, 
grocer and confectioner on Rotten Row : Fine Heyson, Green, 
Congoe and Bohea Tea; Coffee and Chocolate; single and 
double Refined Sugar ; Powder and Muscovado do. ; Sugar 
Candy; Sugar Plumbs and Carraway ; Confects; Jarr Raisins 
and Cask ditto ; Currants, Figgs and Prunes; Almonds in the 
Shell ; Cloves, Mace, Cinnamon and Nutmeg ; Ginger, Black 
Pepper and Allspice; Dry Citron by the Box or smaller quan- 
tity; West India Sweetmeats of all Sorts; Preserves of all 
Sorts, such as Currants, Jellys, Quinces, Grapes, Strawberries, 
Raspberries, Damsons, Peaches, Plumbs and sundry other sorts. 

" Pickles of all sorts in small quantities, very fit for the 
Army, such as Wallnuts, Cucumbers, Mangoes, Peppers, Capers, 
Anchovies, etc. Pickled oysters and lobsters." (1761.) 




George Webster, Grocer, at the Sign of the 
Three Sugar Loaves." (1773O 



364 



IV 

TAVERNS AND TEA GARDENS 

Taverns played a very important part in the social 
life of the day, and the hosts were respected in the 
community and were frequently of considerable weight 
and standing. The best taverns had always a large 
room for entertainments and balls, and these were 
largely patronized by the gentry. There were many 
men in the city, — officers, unmarried clerks, etc., who 
lived in lodgings and took their meals at taverns, 
which also provided ladies with delicate fare. These 
hostelries usually had delightful gardens which were 
illuminated on summer evenings, and sometimes the 
guests were entertained with music. Moreover, if 
anything went wrong in the kitchen at home, or if 
the weather was too hot for cooking, there were many 
bakers who prepared appetizing breadstuffs or offered 
their ovens for a small price. Some of the conven- 
iences within reach even of a modest income appear 
in the following advertisements : 

" Mrs. Brock has removed to the new brick house near the 
City Hall, sells wines, lets lodgings and furnishes victuals 
abroad from twelve to three o'clock." 

" William Keen grocer and confectioner purposes to carry 
on Pastry in all its branches, where persons mav be sujiplied 
with cake of all kinds done in the best manner, Tarts of all 
sorts, with the best of gingerbread fit for Sea ; Captains of 
vessels and others may be supplied with all kinds of sweet- 

365 



w 



Social New York Under the Georges 

meats put up in the best manner, and variety of pickles of all 
sorts, pickled oysters done in the best manner, anchovies and 
Capers. Said Keen proposes to make chicken Pies and Meat 
Pies of all sorts." 

" Spring Gardens, near the College, lately belonging to Mr. 
John Marshall, is opened for breakfasting from 7 o'clock till 9. 
Tea in the afternoon from 3 till 6. The best of green tea &c. 
Hot French rolls will be provided. N. B. Pies and tarts will 
be drawn from 7 in the evening till 9, where gentlemen and 
ladies may depend on good attendance ; the best of Madeira, 
mead, cakes, &c." (1763.) 

"William Muckelvain, baker, at the sign of the Three Bis- 
ketson Pot Baker Hill will continue to heat his oven at 10 a.m. 
every day during the warm weather for baking dishes of meats, 
pies (S:c." (1763.) 

" Newfoundland, more commonly known by the name of 
the Glass House, is now opened for the entertainment of com- 
pany, where constant attendance is given and everything that 
is genteel and agreeable provided. N. B. Breakfasting at- 
tended from 7 A. u. till 10, and tea in the afternoon from 3 till 
6 at IS. 6d. a head furnished with the best green tea and hot 
loaves. Likewise any gentleman or lady that are indisposed, 
and want to take the benefit of the country air, may be accom- 
modated with a genteel apartment." (1763.) 

" Samuel Francis opened an Ordinary at the Queen's Head 
tavern near the Exchange. Dinner every day to be served at 
half past one." (1763.) 

" Wm. Adams opens, at the Sign of General Monckton upon 
the New Dock, a Beef-Steak House, to be ready Hot and 
Hot — from 11 o'clock in the Morning till 3 in the Afternoon at 
the Expense of i Shilling each." (1764.) 

"Just arrived from London, Monsieur Lenzi, confectioner, 
makes and sells all sorts of fine French, English, Italian and 
German biskets, preserved fruits (pines, gooseberries, straw- 
berries, etc.) also in brandy, jams, pastes and jellies, which will 
be warranted for two or three years with good care; all sorts 
of sugar plums, dragees, barley sugar, white and brown sugar 
candy, ice cream and fruits, sugar ornaments which are now 

366 



Manners, Food and Culture 

ready for sale, or to lend out." Later, he also sold "sugar and 
burnt almonds, carraway and aniseed comfits, orange or lemon 
sugar plums, ginger, cinnamon and other tablets. All kinds of 
the finest and richest cakes, as Queen, royal hearts, plum and 
pound cakes, maccaroons, ratafia drops, preserved milk war- 
ranted to keep years, etc., jams, pastes, jellies, any sort of ice 
cream or fruits. He will undertake to furnish any great enter- 
tainment whatever in as elegant a manner as any in Europe." 

(I774-) 

" Edward Bardin has opened the noted tavern at the corner 
house in the Fields formerly kept by John Jones. The Pantry 
opened every evening at 7 o'clock and a cloth laid with the 
following dishes: Roast Beef, Veal, Mutton, Lamb, Ducks and 
Chickens, (lammon, Lobsters, Pickled Oysters, Custards, and 
Tarts of Different Kinds. Chicken Pies ready for Supper every 
night. Tea and Coffee every afternoon. He has a large com- 
modious room fit for balls and assemblies." (1775.) 

Many inns were commodious and well-appointed. 
In 1775, the Queen's Head Tavern, near the Ex- 
change (at the lower end of Broad Street), was 
described as being three stories high with a tile and 
lead roof ; "it has fourteen fireplaces, a most excel- 
lent large kitchen, five dry cellars, with good and con- 
venient offices. It is a corner house, very open and 
airy and in the most complete repair ; near to the 
new ferry." The Queen's Head was in existence as 
early as 1731. 

Another tavern, the King's Arms, was famous in 
the history of New York all through the century. 
This was in Broadway between Crown (Liberty) and 
Little Prince (Cedar) Streets. It was always a fa- 
vourite resort of the officers from Fort George, and 
many stories were told of Lord Cornbury's escapades 
there, one of which was of his riding a horse through 

?.^7 



Social New York Under the Georges 

the large door and up to the bar to demand a 
drink. 

Before the old grey house with its irregular win- 
dows swung the sign painted with " The Lion and 
the Unicorn lighting for the Crown." A row of ca- 
talpa trees extended some distance in front of the inn 
making the air sweet with their heavily-scented 
blooms. From the windows, and still better from the 
cupola on the roof, supplied with a table, seats, and a 




Plated ware owned by Mr&. Alan IlaitwcU ^Liong. Siee page 154. 



good telescope, a beautiful view of the Hudson could 
be enjoyed. In the bar-room were a series of small 
boxes screened with green silk curtains where a guest 
could enjoy his chop and ale or Madeira m priv^acy. 
The dining-room was large and well-furnished. Wide 
verandas back and front contributed to comfort in 
summer. Among the other taverns were the Mason's 
Arms, Fraunces' Tavern, Golden Hill (John and 
Cliff Streets), New York, New Enorland and Quebec 

:;68 



Manners, Food and Culture 

Coffee House, the Horse and Cart and The Province 
Arms. 

In addition to the city taverns with their ball- 
rooms and tea-gardens, there were two famous estab- 
lishments outside the citv. These were called A^aux- 
hall and Ranelagh, in imitation of famous London 
resorts of the same names. Ranelagh was a summer 
garden on Broadway between the present Duane and 
Worth Streets. The New York Hospital was after- 
wards erected here, Governor Tryon witnessing the 
laying of the corner-stone, Vauxhall Gardens were 
situated where is now Greenwich Street between War- 
ren and Chambers, facing the North River, They 
were on part of Sir Peter Warren's estate and com- 
manded a beautiful view of the Hudson. One or 
two selections from the numerous advertisements will 
show the kind of entertamment enjoyed at these 
gardens. 

" At the request of several gentlemen and ladies there will 
be a concert twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, 6.30 v. m. 
(Ranelagh Garden Concert). Small fireworks will be played 
off and the best entertainment as usual, notwithstanding the 
artful insinuations of some ill-minded people to the contrary." 
(1765.) 

" Ranelagh Gardens (For breakfasting as well as the even- 
ing entertainment of ladies and gentlemen,) are laid out at a 
great expence in a very genteel pleasing manner; and judged 
to be far the most rural retreat any way near this city. As an 
addition thereto, a complete band of music is engaged to per- 
form every Monday and Thursday evenings during the Sum- 
mer season (beginning at 7 o'clock) a commodious hall in the 
garden for dancing, with drawing rooms neatly fitted up; the 
very best of wine and other liquors, mead, sillabub, etc. with 
gammon, tongues, alamode beef, tarts, cakes, etc. etc. and on 
25 369 



Social New York Under the Georges 

notice given, dinners and other large entertainments elegantly 
provided as usual. N. B. When any evening proves bad the 
concert will be on the following evening. (1766.) 

" Vauxhall Gardens have been newly fitted up in a very gen- 
teel pleasing Manner, are pleasantly situate, and now open for 
the Reception of Ladies, Gentlemen, etc., and will be illumi- 
nated every evening in the Week ; Coffee, Tea, and Hot Rolls 
at any hour in the day, neat Wines and other Liquors, with 
Cakes, as usual. A concert of Music, Vocal and Listrumental 
will shortly be performed twice every Week, of which due No- 
tice will be given. Contiguous to the Garden there is a very 
good Long Room, convenient for a Ball or Turtle Entertain- 
ment ; also Dinners or Suppers, dressed in the most Elegant 
Manner on timely Notice." (1769.) 

" If the Weather Permits at A^auxhall Gardens. On Monday 
the 27th List, will be exhibited a Magnificent set of Fireworks, 
by the Italians, far exceeding any other Performance of the kind 
yet shown in the City; To be disposed in the following Order: 
First, Eight Rockets, which burst to Stars, Snakes and Crackers. 
SciO/h/, A capricious Wheel, which will represent a Marquis 
Tent. Third, One Wheel, illuminated with different Colours 
and Maroons. Foi/rt/i, One Tournant of brilliant Fire, 
which will represent at different Times the Sun and Moon. 
Fifth, Eight Rockets, — One Globe, illuminated and adorned 
with Chinese Fountains and Italian Candles, and in the centre 
a beautiful Girandola of different Fires. Sixth, One Wheel, 
illuminated with white, red and yellow Fires, — a piece repre- 
senting a Cistern of Water, with twelve Changes, — a curious 
wheel representing a Chinese Looking Glass. Seventh, A 
curious Tornant of different Changes of Fire. Eighth, A Fix'd 
Sun of brilliant Fire. Ninth, Eight Rockets, — a Pigeon on a 
Line will communicate Fire to three Triumphal Arches, adorn'd 
with a brilliant Fire of Diamonds, Chinese Fountains, and 
Italian Candles; — On each side a magnificent Piece, repre- 
senting a beautiful Vase of Flowers, — in the Centre a beautiful 
transparent piece, representing the Wheel of Fortune, adorn'd 
with several curious Illuminations of different Constructions 
and Colours, — To conclude with Eight Rockets. 

370 



Manners, food and Culture 

"The Fire-works will begin exactly at Half an Hour after 
eight, — Music Proper for the Entertainment will be prepared. 
Tickets to be had at the door of the Gardens at t,s. each. Any 
set of Company that choose to spend the evening, will please to 
send in Time, so that Rooms, Supper, etc., may be provided." 
(1769.) 

In the disturbances over the Stamp Act in 1765, 
Vauxhall suffered from the raQ-e of the mob. The 




Silver owned by the Bowers, Crooke, Bleecker and Duane families ; now 
by Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox. See pages 137 and 151. 

newspaper accounts of thisaffair described the hanging 
and burning in effigy of the distributor of the stamps, 
and continued as follows: 

" It is probable that the conductors of this expedition in- 
tended the whole affair should have ended here ; but while 
many of them were attending the fire, a large detachment of 
volunteers making their passage through the other side of the 
palisades went on another expedition and repaired to the house 
(lately known by the name of Vaux Hall) now in the occupation 
of Major James of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. This 

371 



Social New York Under the Georges 

gentleman was one of those who had unfortunately incurred 
the resentment of the public by expressions imputed to him. 
It is said he had taken a lease of the house for 3 years, and 
had obliged himself to return it in the like good order as he 
received it. It had been lately fitted up in an elegant manner, 
and had adjoining a large handsome garden stored with both 
necessaries and curiosities, and had in it several summer 
houses. The house was genteelly furnished with good furni- 
ture; contained a valuable library of choice books, paper, 
accounts, mathematical instruments, draughts, rich clothes, 
linen, etc., and a considerable quantity of wine and other 
liquors. The multitude bursting open the doors, proceeded to 
destroy every individual article the house contained. The 
beds they cut open and threw the feathers abroad; broke all 
the glasses, china, tables, desks, chairs, trunks, chests; and, 
making a large fire at a little distance, threw in everything 
that would burn ; drank or destroyed all the liquor, and left 
not the least article in the house which they did not entirely 
destroy. After which, they also beat to pieces all the doors, 
sashes, window-frames and partitions in the house, leaving it a 
mere shell ; also destroyed the summer-houses and tore up and 
spoiled the garden. All this destruction was completed about 
2 o'clock." 




"Ferdinand, a noble dark bay stallion, property of 
Michael Kearney," (1767.) 



372 



V 

FASHION AND LUXURY 

Manners and customs in the polite society m 
New York followed closely those of London. All 
the fads and chano^ing fancies of English fashionable 
life were faithfully reproduced here. These were 
imported with other up-to-date luxuries. The New 
Yorker could always become acquainted with the 
folly or affectation that was the latest London thing 
in manners because of the constant stream of British 
officers who passed through this port. Moreover, 
many sons of merchants were sent to Europe to 
complete their education and see the world. 

As wealth and luxury increased, the number of 
natives who travelled abroad for business or pleasure 
multiplied. The consequent alteration in their man- 
ners and morals was commented on in print. In 
1754, a subscriber asked an editor to print Gay's fable, 
The Monkey Who Had Seen the U^orld, together with 
the subscriber's " observations on the bad improve- 
ment of travelling on some of our New York Gentle- 
men." He was very severe on the latter. "At all 
places they boast of their acquirements," said he. 
" which are so mean that no traveller should speak of 
them but with the greatest indifference, nay, con- 
tempt." Thence he went on to say : 

" Condumanus, who has not lon,2: since visited London, 
confined all his speculations there to Haddock's Bagnio, Vaux- 

373 



Social New York Under the Georges 

hall, Covent Garden, or some luxurious seats of pleasure . . . 
Guglio can boast the honour of having been several times 
drunk in London. He has there improved in the art of drink- 
ing, has seen the King and Royal Family ; has been in St. 
Paul's ; can tell where the Tower stands, and seen some things 
within it ; has heard Garrick act ; been at both the theatres, 
and can correct the errors of the stage ; knows how the actors 
should strut ; when in a rage ; how he should startle and trem- 
ble when a ghost appears ; how he should singly kick up his 
heels when he makes his exit, 

" Little Clodis Friskabout, besides all these improvements, 
has many others ; he has accomplished himself, if we may be- 
lieve him, in all the arts that constitute a complete gentleman. 
He has eat Otterlings, Woodcocks and the greatest varieties to 
be got for money ; has conversed with the Gentlemen of the 
Liner Temple; has been present at balls and masquerades, and 
distinguished himself there in that most polite accomplishment, 
dancing, whereof he is now complete master. He can move a 
Minuet after the newest fashion in England; can quiver like a 
butterfly ; is a perfect connoiseur in dress ; and has been author 
to all the new cock't hats and scratches in town ; has learnt 
the art of address from the gentility of Covent Garden, which, 
by Jove, he swears has ruined his constitution. Amongst the 
accomplished beaux, he has learned those elegant expressions. 
Split >/ie, Ala dam J By Gad; Dam me; and fails not to use 
them on all occasions. So entirely is he taken up with England, 
that he always mentions guineas when he speaks of money. 
Li short, he values himself for his most excellent faculty of 
expatiating on vices never in his power to commit, and rails at 
every virtue ; swears he can harangue and please a lady as 
well as any man of them all ; and take a pinch of rappee with 
as graceful flourish as a Frenchman." 

About the middle of the century, wealth and 
luxury had reached such a hei2:ht in New York as 
to raise serious protests from old-fashioned citizens 
who were attached to solid and comfortable, but quiet 
and unostentatious living. In 1734, a writer said : 

374 



Manners y Food and Culture 

" Our luxury consists more in an expence of what is im- 
ported from foreign parts than what is of own growth manufac- 
tories ; I am credibly informed that tea and china ware cost 
the province, yearly, near the sum of ;^io,ooo ; and people that 
are least able to go to the expence, must have their tea tho' 
their families want bread. Nay, I am told, often pawn their 
rings and plate to gratifie themselves in that piece of extrava- 
gance." 

In I 747, another wail was heard in a Burgomaster's 
admonition against the Prevalence of Luxury : 

" At this time, the furniture and expenses of every trades- 
man now equal those of the merchant formerly; those of the 
merchant surpass those of the first rate gentleman ; those of the 
gentleman, the old lords, &c. All other nations have each their 
favourite luxury ; as the Italian his pompous palace, the French- 
man his fine suit, the Pole his splendid equipage, the German 
his capacious cellar, the Spaniard his bead roll of titles, (S:c. 
But our taste is universal ; 6c there is scarce a little clerk 
among us, who doth not think himself the outcast of Provi- 
dence, if not enobled by his salary, fees, etc., to outlive the 
rich man in the Gospel." 

Two years later also there is the following similar 
complaint : 

" This province above any other has felt the miseries of 
ignorance and they still remain our sorest afflictions. A sordid 
thirst after money sways the lives of our people ; while learn- 
ing and all the arts lie dispised and neglected. The most 
insipid dunces crowd into preferments and office. But the 
want of education reigns (also) in every art, trade, business 
and character, and discovers itself in a peculiar manner in the 
various companies of men that collect themselves into weekly 
clubs and societies in several parts of this city. Their conver- 
sation turns upon the most trifling subjects; a set of noisy fops 
bluster away the evening in a storm; others smoke their pipes 
with a senseless stupidity ; some impertinently chat away whole 
hours with effeminate observations on dress and the ladies; 

375 



Social New York Under the Georges 



others, in open defiance of the laws of decency and modesty, 
fling out the most fulsome trash that has neither a tendency 
to improve or divert but to debauch and corrupt the mind, 
and the room you sit in resounds perpetually with oaths and 
curses. 

"There is not to be found but one set of men w^hose com- 
pany is innocent and profitable. These gentlemen have de- 




Tortoiseshell snuff-boxes, vases and other Eighteenth Century orna- 
ments ; originals in the Museum for the Art of Decoration, Cooper 
Union. 

clared themselves enemies to nonsense and vice, and are re- 
solved to improve the taste and knowledge and to reform and 
correct the manners of the inhabitants of this town. They 
have formed themselves into a club, and meet every week to 
discant upon learned subjects in a private apartment." 

In 1773, it was stated that "The prevalence and 
daily increase of vice and immorality of every kind 
among us are too evident to escape the notice of the 
most superficial observer," and so a number of gentle- 
men were forming the American Society for the Pro- 

17^ 



Manners, Food and Culture 



moting Religious Knowledge among the Poor. This 
was surely beginning at the wrong end of the social 
ladder. In the same year, a censor of }Hiblie morals 
complained that in these days of dissipation and 
prodigality, to be an advocate for virtue is to be 
deemed sour and superstitious, fashionable vice char- 
acterizes good breeding, liberality results more from 
pride than benevolence, and confidence and audacity 
sully the bloom of youth. He continued: "In the 
days of our forefathers, when decency was in esteem, 
the voice of love seldom escaped in whispers from the 
shelter of concealment, and delicacy harmonized 
every note. Their more refined posterity disdain 
such childish coyness, the voice of love grows clamor- 
ous in public assemblies, and even the votaries of 
Diana permit incense to be offered to Venus in the 
deepest recesses of their consecrated groves. Are 
not the celestial joys of holy wedlock daily bartered 
for titles, feathers, and glittering gold ? " 

In another article, this author complains that the 
neglect of religion has become a mark of politeness, 
and that those who stand highest in the community 
and set the example are dishonourably distinguished 
by their contemptuous neglect of public worship. 
It seems that the rising generation follows this 
pernicious example. " The Lord's Day is now dedi- 
cated by them to scenes of jollity and dissipation, and 
is distinguished from the other parts of the week by 
nothing more than by the freer indulgence of riot 
and every species of excess. Advancing thus to man- 
hood, with minds habituated to luxury, ignorant of 
the doctrines of religion, and unimbued with any 

Z77 



Social New York Under the Georges 

principles of piety, what can we expect but that the 
maturer period of their Hves will present us with a 
more luxuriant crop of intemperance and profanity?" 
The writer then proceeds to denounce the Stage and 
all its workers. 

In the fashionable follies of the day, the women 
certainly did not lag behind the men. They dressed 
magnificently, directed splendidly appointed houses, 
where frequently servants waited in livery, drove in 
handsome equipages, and sometimes managed busi- 
nesses of their own. Afternoon tea, until the early 
days of the Revolution, was always an important 
social function ; and many are the protests heard 
against the excessive use of this herb. In 1731, an 
alarmist wrote to one of the papers as follows : 

" A real Concern for my Fellow Creatures makes me give 
you this Trouble. I should think myself happy if I could per- 
suade them from a custom of a fatal Consequence (I mean 
habitual Tea- Drinking) which so universally prevails among 
us. Were it only the Consideration of so much expended on 
what is absolutely unnecessary, it would not give me much 
Concern, and I should silently lament the unaccountable Fol- 
lies of Human kind ; But when not only their Fortunes, but 
their Health and Happiness are in Danger, I think it my Duty 
openly to forewarn them, and endeavour as much as in me lies, 
to prevent their Ruins." " The continual pouring into the Body 
such quantities of what (if not much worse) is no better than 
Warm Water " the writer considers very harmful. " Nor does 
the Body suffer alone, the Soul also is hindered in the free 
Performance of its Functions and has its share of Disorder; 
Hence that Melancholy, that Heaviness, that Peevishness, those 
unaccountable Fancies, those groundless Fears and Apprehen- 
sions ; in short, whatever comes under the Name of Spleen, I may 
very justly charge here; nor will I acquit this Drug from lay- 
ing the Foundation of many other Distempers " — He also fears 

378 



Manners^ Food and Culture 



that " the fatal Effects of this Custom are entail'd on our Pos- 
terity." 

It was not only tea that roused the ire of our 
censor. He also strongly objected to what he called 
the impertinent custom into which women as well as 
men had fallen of taking snuff. If he did not exag- 
gerate, that New York ladies were quite as advanced 
as their London sisters : 

" This silly Trick of taking Snuff is attended with such a 
Cocquet Air in some young (as well as older) Gentlewomen, 
and such a sedate Masculine one in others, that I cannot tell 
which most to complain of, but they are to me equally disa- 
greeable. Mrs. Saunter is so impatient of being without it, 
that she takes it as often as she does Salt at Meals, and as she 
affects a wonderful Ease and Negligence in all Manners, an 
upper Lip mixed with Snuff, and the Sauce 
is what is presented to the Observation of 
all who have the Honour to eat with her. 
The pretty Creature her Niece does all she 
can to be as disagreeable as her Aunt; and 
if she is not as offensive to the Eye, she is 
quite as much to the Ear, and makes up all 
she wants in a confident Air, by a nauseous 
Rattle of the Nose when the Snuff is deliv- 
ered, and the Fingers make the Stops and 
Closes on the Nostrils. 

" This, perhaps, is not a very Courtly 
Image in speaking of Gentlewomen, that is 
very true; but where arises the Offence? 
Is it in those who commit, or those who 
observe it ? As for my part, I have been so 
extremely disgusted with this filthy Physick hanging on the Lip, 
that the most agreeable Conversation, or Person, has not been 
able to make up for it. As to those who take it for pretty 
Action, or to fill up little Intervals of Discourse, I can bear with 
them; but then they must not use it when another is speaking. 

j/9 




Gold snuff-box be- 
longing to the 
family of the late 
James de Peyster. 
See page 380. 



Social New York Under the Georges 



who ought to be heard with too much Respect, to admit of offer- 
ing at that Time from Hand to Hand the Snuff-Box. But Fla- 
villa is so far taken with her Behaviour in this kind that she 
pulls out her Box (which is indeed full of good Brazi/c) in the 
middle of the Sermon ; and to show she has the Audacity of a 
well-bred Woman, she offers it to the Men as well as the Women 
who sit near her; But since by this Time all the World knows 
she has a fine Hand, I am in hopes she may give herself no 
further Trouble in this Matter. On Sunday was sevennight, 
when they came about for the Offering, she gave her Charity 
with a very good Air, but at the same Time asked the Church- 
warden if he would take a Pinch. Pray, Sir, think of these 
Things in Time." 

Flavilla's snuff-box may have resembled one ad- 
vertised for in 1737: "Lost, or mislaid, (by a lady) 
on Saturday last, an oval gold snuff-box with an 
Egyptian pebble top (14 pistoles reward and no ques- 
tions asked). If offered to be sold or pawned, pray 
stop it." A gold snuff-box of the period is shown on 
page 379. It is now owned by the family of the late 
James de Peyster. 

During the year 1731, the ladies made several 
complaints against the men for lack of due attention. 
The following excerpt from this controversy will show 
the alleiicd o-rievances on both sides : 

" The Court for Reformation of Manners take into Con- 
sideration the Hardships of those who desire to ' enter the 
Conjugal state 'and complain of 'their Incapacity to imitate 
the young ladies of their own Rank, in their inordinate Love of 
appearing Polite.' 

" istly, The Court observe, That the Splendid Appearance 
of those young Ladies who affect to be Polite, is to the great 
Discouragement of the industrious Petitioners. 

" 2ndly, That these Polite young Ladies esteem themselves 
above the addresses of their Equals. 

380 



Mannerly Food and Culture 

" sdly, That the said Ladies are great Admirers of Tea, to 
the utter Confusion of the distressed Petitioners, who are allto- 
gether unacquainted with the Ceremony which usually pass at 
the Tea-Table ; which Ignorance of theirs makes them appear 
excessively Awkward and Ridiculous. 

" The Court accordingly took the foregoing grievances into Con- 
siderations, and give their Sentiments and Verdicts as follows. 

" istly, The gay and darling Appearance of these Ladies is 
partly excusable if they can reasonably afford it, being justly 
commended if they desire to attract the Affections of the 
Beans, who mind not the Inside of themselves and others, so 
much as the Outside. 

"The Court thinking that a strictly fashionable Bean must 
have a plentiful stock of Money, which is the aim of these 
Ladies. 

" 2dly, The severe Treatment which these Ladies give the 
Petitioners is highly unpardonable, seeing, that tho' they may 
be more knowing in some trifling Points of Politeness, yet 
their Fortune and perhaps their Common sense is not more 
extensive than the slighted Admirers; but the Court call this 
scornful Behaviour nothing but an over-valuing themselves, or 
in plainer Terms, Pride and Vanity. 

" 3dly, The sensible Misfortune which the Petitioners lay 
under in being utterly ignorant in the Ceremony of the Tea- 
Table (which is look'd upon as a Point of great Importance) 
we shall remedy as well as we can, it being impossible to root 
out the Custom of drinking Tea j we therefore propose as fol- 
lows, That the Petitioners shall collect among themselves as 
much Money as will buy a set of China or (if they should be 
less Extravagant) Earthen icare, such as Cups, Saucers, Slop- 
Bason, etc., proper for a modish Tea- Table, and allow a Salary 
to any young Lady who is thoroughly acquainted with its com- 
pleat Decoromy ; we say, let them employ such a skillful Per- 
son to teach them the Laws, Rules, Customs, Phrases and 
Names of the Tea Utensils; on all which (by a close .Applica- 
tion) they may soon arrive to a great Proficiency, which will 
certainly render them polite and agreeable to those whose 
Favour they solicite. 

381 



Social New York Under the Georges 



"The Court having laid down these their Sentiments, 
adjourned till such Time as, more grievances call'd their 
Attention. Radamanthus, Sec'rj'. 

"The Court had forgot to inform the Petitioners, that tak- 
ing of Snuff will wonderfully influence their desired Success." 

It should be remembered that the mascuHne 
woman had just come into vogue. She evidently 
had made her appearance in New York. In 1732, 
the following description was reproduced here from 
a London periodical : 

" In days of yore for a lady to be dressed like a woman, to 
speak and act like a woman was thought decent ; but now the 
case is much altered. I went once to visit Stradella, and 
found her with a napkin Cap on her head, made up like a 
Man's, with her Hands behind her, whistling and trying in how 
many Paces she could measure the Room. She turned upon 
her Heel and extending her right Hand, gave me a friendly 
shake and saluted me with Hoic dos't old Hal? Hast break- 
fasted? Wilt have Tea, Coffee or a Dram of Naiitz? I chose 
Coffee. Here, says she, Gefs a Pot immediately ; let tlie Groom 
bring the Horses to the Door, and see. my Pistols are well Printed. 
But our Ladies don't intend to stop here. Bob Brawney has 
received some Love Letters from more than one, and Mr. 
Maidly has been smartly rally'd in two or three for his bash- 
fulness. But is it not, dear Spec, (to be somewhat serious) a 
melancholy Reflection that our Females are Women at 12 or 
13; Men at 18; and very Girls at 50 or 60? That we find 
almost a universal Contempt of Religion and Economy in the 
Fair Sex and all Virtue is turned to Ridicule. This vitiated 
Taste, so prevalent in Town, spreads itself into the Country.'' 

The Duchess of Gordon, who visited this country 
with her husband Staats Long Morris in 1 769, was 
evidently very much in the fashion ; she was long re- 
membered for her masculine dress and manners as 
well as for her good heart. Her husband had title to 

382 



Manners, Food and Culture 



a large tract of land in Otsego Co., New York, and 
she went with him in 1769 on a visit to inspect it, 
travelling on horseback from the Hudson river near 
Catskill westward through the unpeopled wilderness 
to the Susquehanna river. 

In 1734, a contributor objected to women taking 
so much active interest in politics. He protested : 

" As many of your Readers are of the Female Sex, I hope 
they won't take it ill, if they should be told that Politicks is 
what does not become them ; the Governing Kingdoms and 
Ruling Provinces are Things too Difficult and Knotty for the 
fair Sex ; it will render them grave and serious and take off 
those agreeable Smiles that should always accompany them. 
It is with the utmost concern that I daily see Numbers of Fair 
Ladies contending about some abstruce Point in Politicks, and 
running into the greatest Heats about they know not what .... 

" And what I think still worse, is, they can't help shewing 
their Resentments in the publick Streets. The other day I saw 
one of the Courtiers walking along the streets, and being 
obliged to pass by the Door of one of the Contrary Party, she 
speaks to her Children, who were with her, that at their Perils 
they should not bow when they pass'd by such a Door, and 
when she got home could not help exulting at that great Mark 
of Disrespect that she had shewn and how pretty the Children 
had behaved." 

A contributor to a newspaper in 1735, admitting 
that he was in the habit of seeking "a dish of tea 
with some one of my female acquaintance after the 
busy hours of the day are over," called one afternoon 
upon a lad}', and was surprised to find a "large Com- 
pany of agreeable women between the ages of fifteen 
and fifty." This really seems to have been a sort of 
woman's club, for one of them took the great chair 
and discussed with the others the Hunc Over De Club, 

383 



Social New York Under the Georges 

kept every Tuesday evening at four houses in tiie 
city. Several of the women present gave their opin- 
ions regarding this club. One young lady thought it 
would be wise to advise " the young gentlemen of 
the town to think more of their Belles and less of 
their Bottles," 

Women's clubs of some kind undoubtedly existed 
here during our period. In 1747, a scribbler, who 
signs himself Kursonius addresses some verses : 

" TO THE OFFICIOUS LADIES OF THE FEMALE CLUB 

" From envious tales and idle life refrain, 
And save your censur'd reputation ; 
You yet may shine ; esteem once more regain, 

And grace your predecessors' nation.* 
With others' business never interfere, 

Nor more such jealousy discover ; 
And at the end of one probative year 
I promise each good nymph a lover. 

"Kursonius." 

However, for this he speedily did penance with 
the following apology : " Several ladies having taken 
the verses addressed to the officious ladies of the 
Female Club in Mr. De Forest's paper of the third of 
August to be meant for them, Kursonius humblv begs 
their pardon." Kursonius probably would have got 
into sad trouble if he had not recanted, for the respect 
for the sex here was almost a superstition in as far as 
lip-service was concerned, and many champions were 
always ready to rush into print in their cause. 

Notwithstanding the protests, there was a good 
deal of satire written upon fashionable follies and 

* France. 



Manners^ Food and Culture 

those who adopted them. In 1767, a native versifier 
writes : 

"TO THE LADIES.— ON THE PRESENT FASHION OF NOT 
DRESSING THEIR HEADS 

" With hair so long, so lank, so sleek. 

Which not a comb composes. 
Why do you hide your brow and cheek. 

And hardly spare your noses ? 
Say, ye, in whom each worth appears. 

Adorned by all the graces, 
What makes you thus, my pretty dears, 

Ashamed to show your faces ? " 

To this, on the following week, a lady replied : 

" Presumptuous Man, to slander prone. 

Whose verse thy name disgraces ! 
What demon whispered we were grown 

Ashamed to show our faces ? 
In perfect pity to mankind. 

We veiled us for a season : 
Unmask, my girls, he'll cjuickly find 

That pity was the reason." 

Portraits of two of the social leaders of the day, 
Mr. and Mrs. Walton, appear on pages 294 and 297. 
Their home has been described on page 69. 




'< Runaway Negro Slave." (1767.) 

26 3^5 



VI 

EXTRAVAGANCE AND A RETURN TO SIMPLICITY 

The luxury and frivolities of some of the wealthy 
sometimes caused grave offence to the staid old-fash- 
ioned class, and the voice of the censor and moralist 
was frequently heard. If we may believe a writer in 
I 739, society in New York was going to the dogs. .It 
seems that a cousin of his had rudely passed him in 
the street without acknowledging his salutation : 

" Let us then consider the reason why there is so much 
pride to be found in most of the young ladies of this town, 
which may be inquired into by looking into the manner of their 
education on from their infancy to years of discretion. This 
may be done by looking into that of my cousin's, who may pass 
as a sample of the rest. 

"This young woman is now in her i8th year; during her 
infancy till the age of five years, young miss was not to be 
teased with learning, as being of an age too tender to undergo 
the hard task of A. B. C. Mama pretends that loading her 
memory when so young may be of dangerous effects to the 
child, that the dear little creature must have her will in every- 
thing. The maids must be drubbed, the great booby of a 
brother hold his head in his mother's lap to let his little sister 
twitch his hair, the lap dog must be beaten and turned out of 
doors, the monkey cuffed, and, in short, the father called dog 
and good for nothing. 

" Miss is now past 5 years and sole mistress of her father's 
house. If she can be taught to read, story books, in Mama's 
opinion, are now proper to tickle her little fancy. Prayer 
books 'tis true ought to be read by children, but her daughter's 

386 



Manners^ Food and Culture 

temper is such that she cannot take to them, a little romance 
would please the child much better, her inclinations are merry 
and a child of her age ought to be humoured. 

"She's now ten years of age, her mind is ripe for plays. 
Here is again a noble field of vanity presented to madam, her 
mind is wholly taken up with the pleasures it affords, and an 
actress's part repeated by heart yields greater joy to her parents 
than if she knew the whole Catechism. 

" Her eleventh year draws on : it is now full time she 
should appear in the world. Stand by, every brother's part in 
the father's estate ! Head-dresses, masks, necklaces, gloves, 
patches, fans, shoes, girdles, rings, with many other beguiling 
things, whereby many of our sex are tempted to enter their 
snares; — all this while no manner of religion is going forward. 
The young lady's days are passed in receiving and paying visits ; 
her nights at balls and masquerades, or at cards and dice. The 
father thinks to gain a rich husband by equipping her after a 
manner superior to her rank, and the mother for her part very 
willingly conceives the father's folly will one day tend to the 
child's good. Miss now, according to the nature of her sex, 
thinks it time to display her grandeur, everything insipid in 
itself appears beautiful to her. A sap-headed beau in her 
opinion has all the charms that were ever bestowed on the 
lordly creature Man, but a native of the place, and, above all, 
a relation, will never be able to attain to the perfections visible 
in one of foreign parts. It cannot be, for when they appear in 
courtly habits, they do not become them, they are clumsy in 
them, and all their ways are affected and foolish. On the con- 
trary, when they appear in company with clothes becoming a 
merchant, they are monsters filled with covetousness, beasts 
undeserving the happiness of her conversation, the favour of 
her smiles, or the honour of her company. O ! Pride, thou art 
now in all thy glory, Virtue can no more face thee. Innocence 
is a scandal to thee, and the remembrance of poor relations 
are wounds too painful for thy tender frame to bear. 

"The young lady being now come to years of discretion is 
certainly too well founded in the paths of idleness and vice to 
oppose the one with industry and the other by a glorious ex- 

387 







<!5!; 



O- 1'- 




-5 _o 



U 



J3 



X 

o 



c 

> 



Manners, Food and Culture 

ample of virtue, and may perhaps (as by experience is often 
found) be the ruin of her relations, the disgrace of her country, 
and the destruction of her own soul." 

The editor adds that he is very apt to think that 
this is nothing but truth "since I myself have ob- 
served that the young maidens of York and Flushing 
have not half the good qualities that they were blessed 
with in the years 1710 and 1711." 

Affairs of the heart and the business of getting a 
husband formed quite as important parts of fashion- 
able life as they do to-day. In a town where every 
energy was devoted to money-making, a portionless 
maiden had small chance of making a desirable match. 
The gay young English officers and merchants were 
fortune-hunters in many instances, and the native 
New Yorker was accustomed to go where money is. 
A prize in one of the many lotteries sometimes gave 
a poor maiden an advantage over her sisters, and 
therefore tickets could always be sold to the ladies. 
In 1747, a lady "whose hopes of getting a husband 
by a fortune in a lottery had been disappointed, draws 
up a Charitable Lottery — a bill for the relief of the 
distressed widows and maidens of the City and Prov- 
ince of New York." 

" IV/iereas, by the great and melancholy disuse of holy 
matrimony in this city & province, an infinite number of His 
Majesty's good &: loving female subjects remain widows, and 
others are left upon the hands of their parents in the unnatural 
state of virginity, to the grievous prejudice of the Common- 
wealth, the insupportable burden of private families, & the un- 
speakable concern, affliction &: grief of the said females. And 

" ]V/iereas all ordinary methods to prevent or remedy so great 
& growing an evil, have hitherto proved ineffectual: 

389 



Social New York Under the Georges 

" Wherefore, for the better hindrance thereof for the future 
& for the necessary & due encouragement of propagation, 
which we ought more particularly now in time of war to pro- 
mote & attend to, It is prayed that it may be enacted ; and 

" Be it enacted «Scc. That all the widows & virgins of the City 
& Province aforesaid, from the age of 15 to 50 may & shall be 
disposed of by lottery, in the following manner, that is to say, 

" Every unmarried male person of the age aforesaid, in this 
city &: province, that shall be allowed & approved of as proper 
adventurers in this lottery shall give in their names & take out 
each one ticket for which he shall pay the sum of jT^^ : And 
that every widow & virgin shall & may each put in their names 
gratis. 

" The great prizes are to be two fortunes of ^5000 each ; 
10 of ^1500 ; 4 of p{^20oo ; 20 of ;^iooo ; 40 of ;!{^5oo ; 50 of 
^'200 ; and 100 of ^100 each. The second prizes are Beauties 
in Number 200; Pretty girls, 100; Widows, 500; Agreeables, 
200; Good conditioned, 400; Wits, 10; and Housewives, 5. 
The lowest prizes are. Women of Fashion & Good-breeding, 
100; Good card-players, 200; Misses of General Accomplish- 
ments, 50; Friskies, 50; Special Breeders, 500; and Saints of 
the First Magnitude, 150. And in the list of blanks are com- 
prehended all the females of this city (S: province unmarried 
within the age aforesaid. 

"•And Whereas the principal objections against lotteries are 
the draining the poor of their money, and discouraging trade 
and industry ; 

'■'■Be it provided, That in this present lottery no man shall be 
permitted to take a ticket who is not worth ^^500, unless it be 
such useless and idle persons, who do little or nothing else all 
day but stroll up & down the streets with a pipe in their mouths 
smoking; &: with respect to all such, it is hereby declared that 
they shall serve their country this way, seeing that they are or 
will be of no other use to the community. 

"And be it further enacted — that whatsoever any man shall 
draw, whether blank or prize, good or bad, he shall be obliged 
to husband & keep the same; whereby this City &: Province 
will be relieved & discharged of all the present widows and vir- 

390 



Mannerly Ivod and Culture 

gins, & of their doleful complaints, & the births, in all proba- 
bility, increased to near one half the number this ensuing year. 

"■^ And be it further enacted — That in order to prevent any dis- 
putes & quarrels that may arise about fixing the value of the 
inestimable prizes, it is hereby declared that the Beaiities shall 
be settled by the members of the Chit Chat Club, and the Pretties 
& Agreeables shall be rated by the number of their lovers, the 
Wits by the number of their enemies, and the \Mdcnvs by their 
admirers — 

'■'■And Whereas some ill-affected &: seditious persons, gen- 
erally known by the name of Old Bachelors, who omit no oppor- 
tunity of aspersing the administration, may go about to repre- 
sent this act as an attempt to introduce arbitrary power here in 
the plantations, by putting a grevious yoke on the necks of His 
Majesty's subjects residing in this province; it is hereby de- 
clared that there is nothing in this present act contrary to 
Magna Charta, or the Petition of Rights. — And it is hereby 
further declared. That no persons, except old debauchees 
& bachelors above thirty shall be compelled to take a ticket, 
but only advised & exhorted thereto, (if they can show any 
good cause or lawful impediment against it.) And no person 
shall take more than one ticket, except C-n-c-11-rs, M-m-b-rs 
of the G-n-r-1 Ass-m-bly, J-dg-es, J-st-c-s of the P--c, M-y-rs, 
R-c-rd-rs & Ald-r-m-n, Sailors & Soldiers, who are hereby al- 
lowed two, in case they do prove to the satisfaction of the Man- 
agers that one will not serve their turn. 

" And forasmuch as Betty Tiptoe, Spinster, trusting too 
much to her beauty, wit & good fortune, & not having the fear 
of Virginity before her eyes, has refused diverse good offers, 
& merely out of wantonness & disdain, has showed a cruel de- 
light in the pains and sufferings of her admirers; it is there- 
fore thought proper to make an example of her, by not admit- 
ting her into the number of prizes in this present lottery. 

''■And Whereas difficulties <!v: disputes may possibly arise 
about determining in what rank of the prizes Kitty Woundall, 
Miss P)lowsabout, Sally Prim, the Widow Cantwell (^ Miss Hyd- 
den should be placed, whether among the Beauties, the Pretties, 
or the Agreeables, they each claiming all three, to prevent con- 

391 



Social New York Under the Georges 

fusion & save the public needless trouble, they are hereby de- 
sired to choose for themselves, as they shall like best, any one 
of the said three ranks, but no more." 

In I 735, another distressed lady, who signed herself 

Mrs. Nameless, wrote to the editor asking for advice 

since she was over head and ears in love. 

" fjut Custom and the Modesty of my own Sex forbids me 
to reveal it to the Dear Man I adore. I have often thought of 
discovering it by Letter, but I know the Vanity of the Sex so 
well, that I may depend upon being dispised the Moment I do it. 
With my Eyes I have often spoke, and my Tongue has very near 
betrayed me; but the Dear Charming Man seems not to mind 
what I say or do, tho' I fancy if he could Imagine how dearly I 
loved him, he would love me to the greatest Excess. How to 
discover my Passion is the greatest Difficulty I now labour 
under. I have at Church look'd him full in the Face; and when 
I had drawn his Eyes blusht as red as fire, whene'er he sees that 
sign he may be sure, that is the Lady that has fixt her Affec- 
tions. I could describe my seat in the Church, but I dread to 
make it too plain ; my Habits I sometimes, nay often. Change, 
and could I Change my Sex till I made my Passion known, I 
would not be a Moment from the Person I doat on ; But that 
is as impossible as a contented Mind at this Juncture." 

It was customary in fashionable circles to be mar- 
ried by license in the evening at the home of the 
bride's father. When retrenchment and simplicity of 
all kinds were cultivated after the Stamp Act, wed- 
ding and funeral expenses and parade were greatly 
cut down. In December, i 765, therefore, a wedding 
among people of wealth by publication of bans was 
worth a special notice : 

"We are credibly informed that there were married last 
Sunday evening by the Rev. Mr. Auchmuty, a very respectable 
couple that had been published at three different times in 
Trinity Church. A laudable example and worthy to be fol- 

392 



Manners^ Food and Culture 

lowed. If this decent, and for many reasons proper, method 
of publication were once generally to take place, we should 
hear no more of clandestine marriages, and save the expence 
of licences, no inconsiderable sum these hard and distressing 
times." 

In announcing" the wedding, the papers always 
had something compHmentaiy to say of the bride, as 
in the following instances in 1759 • 

" Saturday night, Mr. John Lawrence of this city, merchant, 
was married to Miss Catherme Livingston, daughter of the 
Hon. Lhilip Livingston, Esq. ; late of this city, deceased, a very 
agreeable young lady with a handsome fortune." 

"Wednesday night last, Mr. Thomas Marston, son of Mr. 
Nathaniel Marston, merchant, of this city, was married to Miss 
Kitty Lispenard, daughter of Leonard Lispenard, Esq. ; of this 
place, merchant also; a most agreeable young lady possessed 
of all those good accomplishments that render the married state 
completely happy." 

In 1774, Thomas Moncrieff married the very 
amiable Miss Helena Barclay at her father's house 
in Wall Street. " Immediately after the ceremony, 
they set out for their country retirement t)n Long 
Island." This wedding took place in the morning, 
doubtless on account of the journey. 

New Yorkers were extremely fond of pets. A 
great number of advertisements of lost dogs aj)peared. 
Various breeds are described. In i 730, the (lovernor's 
dog, a large young mastiff, was lost ; in i 734, a slave 
ran away with a " black shock dog, cropt ears, his Tail 
docked very short"; in 1 763, someone lost a small 
bitch puppy, named " Sylvia." This was a spaniel 
with a dark brown body and short tail. In 1769, 
Lord Rosehill lost his "small black and white 
27 393 



Social New York Under the Georges 

Dog of King Charles's breed, for which he offered 
twenty shillings; and in 1773, another dog-lover lost 
"his liver and white pointer" that "answers to the 




Silver salver owned by Frederic J. de Peyster, Esq. See page 141. 

name of Ponto." In 1769, Mr. Deas, the peruke- 
maker wants "a dog of the true Newfoundland breed, 
young and of the largest size." 

Birds were also kept as pets. Parrots were fa- 
vourites, for the constant importations of parrot cages 
and the advertisements of the same by the local bra- 

394 



Manners, Food and Culture 

ziers indicate a demand for them. In 1759, we read 
that James Bernard, inn-keeper at King's Bridge, had 
" to dispose of a large collection of Canary Birds in full 
plumage and song. Those Gentlemen and Ladies 
that spoke some time ago to him for Canary Birds by 
favouring him with a Line where they may he sent, 
can now be supplied." The aforesaid Mr. Deas ad- 
vertised for some " Virginia Nightingales and other 
curious Birds " in i 769. 



CONCLUSION 

In the foregoing pages, an endeavour has been 
made to let old citizens of Georgian New York speak 
for themselves in showing us the houses they lived in, 
the gardens they laid out, the fruits and llowers they 
enjoyed, the clothes they wore and the food they ate, 
as well as their sports and pastimes, their accomplish- 
ments, amusements, gaieties, and entertainments. 

Before the Colonies threw off the British yoke, 
we have seen that visitors, as well as natives of New 
York, were struck bv one characteristic of the citizens 
that was particularlv noticeable in those days as now. 
This was the race for wealth. New York before the 
Revolution was alwavs a money-making and |)lcasure- 
loving town. Luxuries were brought from the ends 
of the earth to satisfv the tastes of prosperous New 
A'ork people. Their homes were appointed with 
everv convenience and thev dwelt in a delightful set- 
ting of meadows and woods, with a water frontage 
unsurpassed anvwhere else in the world. There was 

395 



Social New York Under the Georges 

breathing space then, and the view from one man's 
windows was not interrupted by the house of his 
neighbour. 

We can imagine the amazement with which one of 
the old citizens would regard modern conditions. The 
buildings that now cover the lower end of the island 
like monster packing-cases piled into the sky would 
stupefy him. The old idea of the possibilities of 
the future is well exemplihed by an advertisement of 
1775, in which a Mrs. Shuckber wants to sell two 
houses and grounds on Broadway, near Trinity 
Church. She says " the main lot extends two hun- 
dred feet into the river. There is a full view from 
the lot (that can never be obstructed) of the bay down 
to the Narrows and of the passage across the river to 
and from Powles Hook." If the lady could revisit the 
scene, her comments would be decidedly interesting. 

The glitter and parade of fashional)le life faded 
out for a time with the Revolution. Before the 
actual fighting began, we find associations formed for 
a simpler and more economical mode of life ; and 
what still remained of extravagance and wild gaiety 
finally took its departure with the Loyalists. The 
Continental Congress had made a voluntary self-denial 
of all the vanities of sport at the beginning of the 
struggle. 

On looking back over the social history of the 
town, we see that the general character of its inhabit- 
ants has changed verv little, and that the New York 
of to-day is very similar in spirit to that of the period 
here reviewed. 



396 



INDEX 



Accidents, shooting, 261-2. 

Act of Continental Congress, 271. 

Acts, laws and ordinances, 7-14. 

17-18. 
Act to preserve game, 261. 
Adams, William, 366. 
Afternoon tea, 378. 
Agar, Edward, 206. 
Agate-ware, 130-131. 
Alamode, 230. 
Ale, 353. 
Alexander, Catherine, 304. 

, James, 73. 303. 

, Mrs, James, house of, 73-76. 

, — , shop goods of, 76. 

, — , will of, 73-75. 

Alligator, exhibition of, 320. 

Alms house, 37. 

American Society for Promoting 

Religious Knowledge among 

the Poor. :^76-t,77. 
Amherst, Sir Jeffrey, ball of. 308. 
Anburey, quoted, 7. 
Anchovies, 363. 

Animals, exhibitions of, 319-322. 
Annerly. Edward, 25. 
Anstey, <|uoted, i82-'3, 204, 240- 

241. r- 

Aprons, 221. 
Arne, 288, 298. 
Artists, 332-334- 
Ash, Gilbert, 80, 298. 
Assembly. Dancing, 301. 
Auction sales, 84-87. 

Bachelor, Protest of a, 172-174. 
Backgammon, 265. 



Bag-wigs, 176. 

Bakers. 365-366. 

Balconies, 6, 29-30. 

Balls, 301, 304-308, 311. 

Barclay, Helena, 393. 

Bardin, Edward, 367. 

Barge, Gov. Montgomerie's, 86. 

Basins, 141. 

Bass, 351. 

Bateman, tragedy of Young, 316, 

317-318. 
Battledores and Shuttlecocks, 

265. 
Bayard, Nicholas, 95, 363. 

, country seat of, 42-43. 

Bayard's Woods, 262. 

Beau, The, 171. 

Beau Nash, 221. 

Beaux, behaviour of, 373-374. 

Beaux Stratagem, The, 283. 

Beck, Joseph, 226. 

Bed, The, 103-107. 

curtains, 104-106. 

rooms, 105-108. 

side carpet, 106. 

steps, 106. 

Bedloe's Island, 45. 

Beekman house. Rural Cove. 122. 
Beekman jar and beakers, 121- 

122. 
Beekman's Swamp, 15. 
Beer, 353. 

Beggars' Opera. The. 275. 
Bell. George. 122. 
Bellomont, Lord, 55. 
Belton. Mrs., 335. 
Biferi, Nicholas, 296-297, 299, 330. 



397 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Birthdays. Kings', 304-307. 

Blankets, 103. 

Boats, Pleasure, 265. 

Bonnets, 212, 215, 216. 

Bonnin, ]\Ir., shows of, 2^2-2,22,. 

Book-binder, 338. 

Books. Zi7-d<i9- 

Bowling-Green, 18. 

Bowls, 265. 

Boyd, Elizabeth, 248. 

Bradford, William, 2,27. 

Brass-ware, 161-162. 

Braziers. 161-162. 

Breeches-patterns. 190-193. 

Breeze. Sidney, 164. 236. 

Bricks, 3,3. 34. 

Bridges, 46. 

Bridge Street, 15. 

Brinner, John, 79, 96-97. 

Broad Street, 15. 

Broadway, 18. 

Brock, Mrs., 365. 

Brufif, Charles O., 252, 253-4. 

Buckles. 146, 193, 254-255. 

Buffalo, 321. 

Buildings, 37. 

Bull-baiting, 267. 

Burgher's Path. 46. 357. 

Burnaby, quotation from, 350-351. 

Burnet, Governor, 55. 

. — , china of, 121. 

. — . musical instruments of, 

293- 

, — , possessions of, 61-63. 

. — , wines of, 353. 

Burras, Benjamin, 223. 

Butchers, 358-360. 

Butter, 357, 360. 

Button-makers J est -Booh. The. 190. 

Buttons. 190-193, 254-255. 

Cabinet-makers, 79-83. 
Cabinets. 122. 
Cabriole, The. 216. 



Calash, The, 218. 
Callimanco. 230. 
Callow, Stephen, 80. 
Canaries, 395. 
Candelabra, 142. 
Candlesticks. 142-143. 
Capers, 363. 

Caps, 212, 213, 215, 217, 218. 
Capuchine. 214, 223. 
Cardinal. 223-224. 
Cards. 265. 
Carpets, 95-96. 
Carroll, Mrs. Thomas, 334. 
Carvers. 79-81. 
Carving. 96. 

Case-of-drawers, 107-109. 
Caterers, 301, 365-7. 
Catchup, 363. 
Catiemut's Hill. 9. 
Caudle-cups, 139. 
Cauliflower-ware, 131. 
Chairs, 109-110. 
Chest-upon-Chest, 108. 
Children's books, 338. 

clothes. 22y. 

China, 1 19-132. 

. Capt. G. Shelly's, 60. 121. 

, ornamental, 107. 126-127, 131. 

Chocolate Pots, 152. 
Churches. 37. 
Church-music, 299-300. 
Circulating Library. 339. 
Citron, 363. 
City Hall. 37. 

Cleaners and dyers, 248-249. 
Clinton. Governor, 19, 69, 306, 

347- 
Cloaks. 223-224. 
Clocks, 113, 115. 
Clothes, lost and stolen, 187-188, 

224. 
Clubs, 308-311. 
— ■ — . women's, 383-384, 
Coals, 95. 



398 



Index 



Coats. i8i. 

, fur-lined, 239. 

Cocked liat, 178. 

Cockfighting, 266-267. 

Cod. 352. 

Coenties Market. 348. 356-357- 

Slip. 47. 356-357- 

Coffee Pots, 151. 

Colden. Alexander, house of. 55. 

. Cadwallader. on desire for 

money in New York. 314- 

315- 
Cole. Mrs.. 335. 
Collect. The. 24. 
Colville. Elizabeth, 217. 
Commode. The. 209. 212. 
Common. The. 9. 16. 
Company, Theatrical, lyz, 274. 
Concert, Ranelagh, 369. 
Concerts, 292, 297-300. 
Confectioners. 365-366. 
Conscious Lovers. The. 279. 
Continental Congress. against 

sport. 271. 
Cook-books. 361-362. 
Cooking. 361-362. 
Cooks. 360-361. 
Cordial waters, 353-354. 
Corelli. 287. 288. 
Cornbury, Lord. 55. 59, 367. 
Cornell. John, 267. 
Cosby, Governor, 45. 
Cosmetics, 201-208. 
Counterpanes, 103. 
Country-seats, 40-45, 55, 349. 
Coventry, Lady, 202. 
Cowper, quotation from, 202. 
Cox, Joseph. 79-80, 82. 83. 
Cozani. Joseph. 297. 
Crab-fish, exhibited. 320. 
Cravats. 179. 

Cream-coloured ware. 125. 132. 
Cricket-balls. 265. 
Cripple Bush, 15, 16. 



Culinary art, 360. 
Cupboards, 143-144. 
Currants, 363-364. 
Custis, Eleanor, 142. 
Cutlery, 165-168. 
Cyiiwii. 285. 

Da Costa, J., 132. 
Damask, 230. 
Damon and Cliloe. 298. 
Dances, 305, 330. 
Dancing Academy. 304. 

. Assembly. 301. 304. 

. masters. 331. 

Davies. Capt. B.. 87. 

Deane. Richard. 353. 

Deer. 261. 

Deer-parks. 264. 

Delany. Mrs., quoted. 229. 233. 

De Lancey. Governor. 55. 

De Lancey. Oliver. 270. 

De Lange. Jacob. 120. 

Delanoy. Abraham, ^ii- 

Delicacies, Table, 363-364. 

De Meyer, Nicholas, 53. 

De Peyster, Abraham, 18. 

, house of, ig, 69-73. 

. Johannes. 53. 

Derhani. ]\I.. 215. 

Diamonds. 250. 251. 252. 253, 

■^54- 
Dienval. Alexander V., musician, 

-'95- 
Distillery. 353. 
Dogs. 12. ,^93-394- 
Douglass. David. 280. 281. 
Dress, lines about. 245. 246. 

. simplicity in. 196-197. 

Dressiug-fable. gentlemen's. 174- 

175- 

, ladies". 201. 

Drinking. 260, 306, 308, 35--4- 

Ducape, 230. 

Duchess of Gordon, 39, 382-383. 



399 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Duncan, Thomas, burning of 

house of, 28. 
Durand, John, TfT,T,. 
Dutens, Cliarles. 252. 
Duyckinck, G.. 90, ^^i. 
Duyckinck's map, 16. 

Ebbing, Jcroninus, 53. 
Economy of ladies, 248. 
Education of a young lady, t,%G, 

389. 
Electrical fish, ^21-^,22. 
Elers, The, 123. 

Elmendorph, Catharine, 137, 227. 
Emeralds, 252, 
Engravings, 89-92. 
Entertainments, 311. 
Ewers, 141. 
Exchange Place, 15. 

Fair Penitent, TIic, 27J. 

Fans, 224-225. 

Farms and plantations, 40-44. 

Feathers. 218, 219. 

Female Club, The, 384. 

Fencing, 331-33-2- 

masters, 331-332. 

Fergusson, C. and J., 238, 335. 

Ferries. 46-47, 48. 

Figs, 363. 

Fire-arms, 17-18. 

Fire-engines, 27-28. 

Fire-place, 92-95. 

Fires, 27-TiT,. 

Fireworks, 370. 

Fish, 347-349- 

Fish-market, 348. 

Fishing, 265, 266. 

Flowers, artificial, 218, 334. 

Fly cap, 216, 217. 

Flying Club, 311. 

Foddy, James, 97. 

Fontange, The, 209. 

Food sold in the streets, 358. 



Fort George, 4, 18. 

— , entertainments at, 304, 

305, 306-307. 
Francis, Samuel, 366. 
Fraunces's Tavern, 19. 312. 
Free Bridge. Dyckman's, 46. 
French Dances, 305. 
Fresh Water,' 5, 16. 
Fruits, 342, 345-347- 
Furniture, Governor Burnet's. 

61-63. 
l-'urniture, Cornells Jacobs's, 56- 

57- 

, Col. W. Smith's, 58. 

. Capt. G. Shelly's, 59-60. 

, Abraham Lodge's, 66-69. 

, William Walton's, 69. 

, Abraham de Peyster, 70-73. 

Furs, 239. 

Gaine, Hugh, 204, 207, 248, 337, 

361. 
Gallows, 9, 16. 
Gambling, 260. 
Game-preserves, 262. 

, season for. 262. 264. 

Games, 265. 

Gardens, 25, 26, 41, 44. 

, ornaments for, 25. 

Gardeners, 343. 

Garden Street. 15. 

Gates, city, 5. 

Gauze, 220-221. 

Gazley, Martha, 334. 

Geminiani. 288. 

Gentlemen's furnishings, 180. 

German Flute, 290. 

• — , music for the, 289. 

Gilliland, James, 122. 
Girandoles, 98. 
Glass, 162-165. 
Glee clubs, 291. 
Gloves, 195, 220. 
Golf, 265. 



400 



Index 



Governor's Island, 45. 

Governor's residence. 4, 37. 

Granby, Marquis of, 308. 

Grates, 162. 

Green Lane, 15. 

Grocer, 365. 

Groceries, 363-364. 

Grottos, 25. 

Gueubel. Stephen. 113. 

Gunnings, The, 202, 215. 

Haircloth. 95. 

Hair-dressing, gentlemen's, 175- 

178. 

. ladies. 209-212. 

. verse on. 385. 

Halden, John, 162. 
Hallam, Miss, 283. 

, Mrs. Lewis, 280, 283, 299. 

Handel, 288. 298. 
Handkerchiefs. 195. 
Hanover Square, 19. 
Hardenbrook. Thco.. designer, 

25-26. 
Harman. Mrs.. 283, 299. 
Harmonic Society. 292. 
Harpsichord, music for the. 288. 
Hat, cocked. 171. 
Hats. 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 

218. 
Haydn, 286. 
Hayes. Barak, 205. 
Head, ornaments for the, 210-212. 
Hendrickson. D.. 34. 
Herrings. 352. 
Hive. The, 216. 2t,S. 
Hizen-ware. 122. 
Honest Yorkshircmau. The, 2"/"/. 
Hoods, 212-214. 
Hoop, The, 229. 
Horses, Breeders of, 270. 

, English and American, 268. 

Houses, 6-7. 

, advertisements of, 20-21. 



Houses, interiors of, 6-7, t,},. 

, rents of, 34-37. 

Hulett, William C.. 280. 292, 295, 

-97. ,^30, 331- 
Hunc Over De Club, 383-384. 
Hungary- water, 203, 205. 
Hunter, Governor, 55. 
Hunting, 267. 
Husband-hunting, 392. 

Lnari. 122. 

Immorality. 2,76. 

Importations of dress-goods, 

-230-233. 
Intriguing Chainbcrumid. The. 27^^. 

Jacobs, Cornelis. china o\. 120. 
James, Major, house of, attacked 

by mob, ^,71-^72. 
Jane Shore. 2Ht,. 
Japanese, The, 320. 
Japanned-ware. 113-114. 
Jay, Peter. 235. 
Jewellers. 252. 
Jewelry, 195. 250-256. 

, Capt. Shelly's. 250. 

, Importations of, 254-255. 

Johnson. Joseph. 338. 

Johnson. Sir William, welcome 

to, 310-31 1. 
John Street Theatre, 282. 

Kalm. quoted. 5-7, 22-24, 88, 347. 

355- 
Kas, 115. 

Keen. William. 365. 
Kennedy, Cai)tain. house of, 18. 
Kevenhuller cock. 171. 178. 
Kilburn, Lawrence, ^^,^2. 
King's Arms Tavern, 367-368. 
King's Bridge, 46. 
King's College. 37, 314. 

, commencement of. 312-314. 

King's Farm, The, 16. 



401 



Social New York Under the Georges 



King's Honey-water, 203, 205. 
King and the Miller of Mansfield, 

The, 280. 
Kissing-Bridge, The, 351. 
Kitchen utensils, 161. 
Knee-garters, 194. 
Knife-cases, 167-168. 
Knight, A-Iadam, 33, 92, 259. 
Kursoi.ius, 384. 

Laces, 220. 

Lady, education of a. 386-389. 

Lamps, 102. 

Languages, teaching of, 330. 

Lanterns, 102. 

Lasker, Jolm, 222. 

Lawrence, John, 53, 393. 

Laws, 2y, ^t,. 

Leadbeater, James, 296. 

Lectures, humourous, 2)~(^-3^7- 

Leisler, Jacob. 53. 

Lemons, 363. 

Lenzi, M., 301, 366. 

Lepper, Thomas, 164. 

Lethe, 283. 

Libraries. 85-86, 339-340. 

Lioness, 320. 

Liqueurs. 353. 

Lispenard. Kitty, 393. 

Meadows, 269. 

Livingston. Catherine, 393. 

, Mary, 72,- 

. Philip, 47. 

, Gov. William. 163. 

Lobsters. 349. 

Lodge, Abraham, home of, 66- 

69- 
London company of comedians, 

277. 
Long, W. and S.. 335. 
Looking-glasses, 97-102. 
Lorin, Peter, 252. 
Lotteries, 260-261. 
Lottery, marriage, 389-392. 



Loudoun, Earl of, sale of goods 

of, 86. 
Love, Charles, 295. 
Lowestoft-ware, 125. 
Lutestring, 230. 
Luxury, 374-375- 

Macaroni, The, 183-185. 

, — , Club, 184. 

. — , Purse, 185. 

Madeira wine, 353. 
Maiden Lane. 15. 
]Mail Service. 37-38. 
^lall. The, 19. 
Mangoes, 364. 
Manners, 2,7^, 380-382. 
Mantel-pieces. 94. 
Mantua-makers, 22,7. 
Marionettes, 316. 
Markets, 2,7, 356-357- 
]\larlborough. Duchess of, 203. 
Marriages, 39-2-393- 
Marshall, John, 366. 
Marston, Thomas, 393. 
Mary, Queen, 54. 
Masks, 224. 

Mazzanti, Signora, 292. 
McDougal, Captain, 354. 
IMcEvers, James, 123. 
McQueen, John, 226. 
^leat, 358-360. 
Meissonier, 143. 
Merchants, wealth of, 53. 
Merveilleuse, 243. 
Mezzotints, 89, 90. 
Microscope. Solar. 325-326. 
Military Band, 298-299. 
Milk, 16, 358. 
Milligan, John, 22t,. 
Milliners, 215, 217, 239. 
Miniature fashions, 238-239. 
Miss in her Teens. 275. 
Mitchell, John, 123. 
Mits, 220. 



402 



Index 



Mohocks, II-I2. 
Moncrieff, Thomas, 393. 
Money, desire for, 314-315- 
Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley, 

207. 
Monteith, The, 141. 
Montgomerie, Governor, 84-86. 

, barge of. 86. 

, china of, 121. 

, clothes of, 181. 

, horses of, 86. 

, household possessions of, 

63-64. 84-86. 
— -. library of. 85-86. 
Morals, public, 2i7?>-i7'^- 
More, Hannah, 211. 
Morris, Lewis. 19. 53, 173. 

, — , silver of, 133. 

, Staats Long. 39. 382-383. 

Muckelrain, William, 366. 
Mufifs. 239. 
Mugs, 138. 
Mushrooms. 363. 
Music, 282-300. 

. amateur, 290-292. 

, character of, 286. 

, teachers, 295-297. 

}\IusicaI clock, exhibition of, 

325- 

, instruments, 293-295. 

Myers. Hyam. 356. 

. Naphtaly Hart. 251, 254. 

Nagasaki, 122. 

Nankee Doodle, 185. 

Needlework, 334-5. 

Negligee, 238. 

Nerv Bath Guide, quoted, 182-3, 

204, 240-241. 
Newmarket Races. 267. 268. 
New Year's Eve. noises on. 14. 
New York, beauty and size of. 

3-4- 
, gates of. 5. 



New York travellers, descriptions 
of, 5, 6-7. 

, wealth in, 53-54, 56. 

New Yorkers, gaiety of, 259-260. 
Nicholl, Edward, 123, 162. 
Nicholls, Col., 267. 
Nightgowns, 238. 
Night-hawks, 11. 
Nithsdale, Lady, 213. 
Nivernois cock, 178. 
Noel, Garrat, 90, 91, 339. 
Nutten Island, 45. 
Nuts, 342. 

Oil, 363. 
Olives. 363. 
Operas, favourite, 290. 
Oranges, 364. 
Organ, 87. 

• music, 288. 

. Trinity Church. 299. 

Organs, 294. 

Oriental ware, 127-128. 

Osborne, Sir Danvers. sale of, 

possessions. 86. 
Ostriches. 321. 
Oysters. .U9-350. 

Packet-boats. 38-39. 

Paduasoy. 230. 

Painting. 33-2-333- 

Painting on glass. 333-334- 

Paintings. sale of. 87. 

Paints. 203, 206-207. 

Palisades, 5. 

Panoramas, 323-325. 

Parade. The. 18. 

Parker, Catherine, 7i- 

, Elisha, diary of, 303. 340- 

341- 

, — . on Pamela, 340-341. 

. Capt. T., wardrobe, 189-190. 

Parrots, 394. 
Paste buckles, 254. 



403 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Patch-boxes, 224. 

Pearl Street, 19. 

Pelerine. See Pullareen. 

Pelham. Peter, 295. 

Perfumes, 203-204. 

Persian, 230. 

Perukes, 175-178. 

Pets. 393-395- 

Pewter, 159-160. 

Pewterers, 159. 

Pheasants, English, 45-46. 

Philipsen, Hendrick, 53. 

Phillipse, Frederick, 46. 

Piano music, 288. 

Pickles, 363, 364. 

Picture-dealers, 90. 

Pictures, 89-92. 

Pigeons, 355. 

Pineapple ware, 131. 

Pineapples, 347. 

Play-houses, 272, 282. 

Plays and players, 272-285. 

Pocket-books, 196. 

Pomatum, 212. 

Poplin, 230. 

Porcupine. 320. 

Porringers. 139. 

Portobello ware, 131. 

Posset-cups, 139. 

Post office, 38. 

Posture-makers, 316. 

Potteries, English, 123. 

Poulterer, 356. 

Poultry, 355. 

Powder-house, 16. 

Prince, Samuel, 82. 

Prizes of lottery. 261. 

Prizes of shooting - matches 

264-5. 
Proctor, ]\Ir., 295. 
Propert, D., 296. 
Pullareen, 214. 
Punch bowls, 141. 
ladles. 141. 



Punch's opera. 316. 
Punishments, 8-9, 139-141. 

Quantz. 290. 

Queen's Head Tavern, 367. 
Queen's ware, 125. 
Quilts. 103. 

Races. 267-271. 
Raisins, 364. 
Ramilics cock. 178. 
Ramilies wig, 176. 
Ranelagh, 369-370, 
Ray, T,s~- 
Ray, Richard, 137. 

. Sarah, 137, 202. 

Receipt for a iNIodern Dress, 245. 

sack posset, 362-3. 

Remsen. Henry, 47. 

Revere, Paul, 157. 

Ribbons. 215. 

Richard III., 272, 283. 

Richey, George, 82. 

Rings. 251-254. 

Rivers. John. 331. 

Rivington, James. 90, 92, 208. 265, 

288. 289, ii7- 
Roaring-Boys. 11. 
Rombouts. Francis, china of, 120. 
Romeo and Juliet. 284. 
Roofs, 6, 32. 
Roosevelt, John J., 91, 122. 

, Nicholas, 266. 

Rose. Joseph, 161. 
Rubies, 252. 
Ruffles, 195, 220. 
Russell, 230. 



Sabbath, observation 

377-i7S. 
Sack, 237-238. 
Salisbury Plain, 267. 
Salmon. 352. 
Salt, The, 135. 



of. 13-14. 



404 



Index 



Salvers. 141-142. 

Samson, The Female, 317. 

Sapphires. 252. 

Sarcenet, 230. 

School, Dancing. 296, 330. 

Schools, 329-330. 

Schu3-Ier. John, 264. 

Scrutore. iio-iii. 

Sea-Bathing. 266. 

Seasons, close for game, 262- 

264. 
Seeds, 34^-343- 
Sewing. 335. 
Sexes, grievances of both. 380- 

382. 
Shad. 351. 
Shades. 216. 
Sharks. 352. 
Sheepshead. i}^i. 
Sheeting. 103. 
Shell fish, 348-350. 
Shelly, Giles. Capt.. 59-61. 121. 
Shirts, 194. 
Shoe-makers. 222-21},. 

I Shoes, 193-194, 22\-222. 

Shooting, 261. 
Shooting-matches, 264. 
Shows, 316-323. 
Siemon, John, 239. 
Signs, 21-22. 
Silver. 133-158. 

, Asser Levy's. 134. 

. engravers of. 144. 

. James Alexander's. 137. 

, Lewis Morris's. 133. 

, M. Van Varick's, 133-134. 

. Mrs. Wallace's. 157-158. 

. new styles of. 156-157. 

. Richard Ray's, 137. 

•. Rip Van Dam's. 147-148. 

. the De Peyster. 137. 148. 

. William Cox's. 134. 

. William Walton's, 148. 

Silversmiths, 145-146. 



Skate. 352. 

Sleighing. 259. 

Slips. 47-48. 

Smith. Col. William, possessions 

of, 58-59- 

, glassware of, 163. 

. Mrs. William, dress of, 234- 

-'35- 
Snuff. 379-^80. 
SnutT-boxes, 196. 380. 
Soaps. 203. 206. 248. 
Social Club. 31 1-3 12. 
Societies, 308-311. 
Society for Promoting Arts, 

— • — Religious Knowledge 

among the Pc:)or, 376-377. 
Society of the Friendly Brothers, 

311- 
Society Library. 339. 

. St. Andrew's. 308. 309-310. 

. St. David's, 309. 

. St. George's. 308. 

. St. Nicholas's. 309. 

. St. Patrick's. 308-309. 

Sodi. Pietro. 296-297. 299. 330. 

Solitaire. The. 179. 

Spectator. The. quoted. 212. 

Spinets. 87. 293. 

Spinning. 336. 

Spoon-cases. 167-168. 

Spoons, 155. 

Spratt. John, 53. 

Stage, Hostility to the, 280, 281. 

Stage setting, elaborate. 284-285. 

Stamp Act. 280. 371. 392. 

Stay-hook. 228. 

Stay makers. 226. 

Stays. 225-227. 

Steenwyck, Cornells, 53. 

Stevens. Elizabeth. 72,. 

Stirling. Earl of. 76. 270. 

St. ^Maurice. Margaret. 213-214. 

Stockades, 4. 



405 



Social New York Under the Georges 



Stockings, 182, 194. 
Stomachers. 224, 228. 
Storer, Maria, 282, 299. 
Stoves, 95. 
Street lamps. 11, 12. 

signs, 21-22. 

Stuyvesant. Judith, 121. 

, Nicholas William, 217. 

Sugar. 363. 

Sugar-candy, 363. 

Sunday, observation of. 13-14. 

Suydam, Ryck, in. 
Swamps and marshes, 15-16. 
Swift, quoted. 201. 

Tables. 111-113. 

Tafifety. 230. 

Tailors, 185-186. iZT- 

Tankards. 135-137- 

Tartini, 287. 

Tartini's Soiiatc du Diable, 288. 

Taverns. 365-369. 

Taxes. t,2. 

Tea, 383. 

Tea-Drinking. 378-379- 

Tea-Pots. 149-150. 

Tea-Tables. 381. 

Tea Water Pump. 24. 

Temperance, appeal for. 354. 

Tempest. The. 285. 

Tender Husband. The. 284. 

Tennis racquets. 265. 

Terrapin, 350. 

Tetley. William, 331. 

Theatres, 272-285. 

Theatrical Companies, 272-285. 

Tiles, 6, 31-34, 92, 94. 

Tippet, Sally, Letter of, 241-244. 

Tippets, 239. 

Toasts. 354. 

Tortoiseshell ware. 130. 

Tower, The, 209, 210. 

Trade, 56. 



Travelling and Travellers, 38-39. 

Trees. 6. 15. 

Trespassing, 17. 

Trim. Thomas, quoted. 196-197. 

Tryon, Governor, 369. 

Tzvin Rivals. The. 280. 

Tuckey, William. 295-296, 298, 

299. 
Tumblers. 138-139. 
Turtle. 350-351- 
Turtle-feasts. 350-35 1- 
Tyger, 321. 

Umbrellas, 64, 195. 

Universal Magaj:ine. quoted, 244. 

Upholsterers. 80. 82-83. 

Upton, Mr.. 277-279. 

Urn, The, 152. 

Van Burgh, Johannes, 53. 
Van Cortlandt house, 45. 

■. Mary, dress of, 235. 

. Olaf. 53- 

Van Dam. Rip. 64-65. 86, 272. 

Van Rviyven, Cornelis, 53. 

Van Varick. Margarita. 119. 

Vauxhall. 369-372. 

Vavasor, Josiah, 236. 

Vegetables, 342-345- 

Ver Planck, Judith C, 143. 

, Samuel, 143. 

Viany. Peter, ^^,2. 
Victuals, assize of. 358. 
Vintner's company. 141. 
Violin music. 288-289. 

, popularity of the. 286-289. 

Voider. 135. 

Wainwright. Miss, 283, 299. 
Waistcoats, 190-193. 
Walking-sticks, 195. 
Wall, Mr., 283. 
Wall-paper, 88-89. 
Walls, 88-89. 



406 



Index 



Walnuts, 364. 

Walpole. Horace, quoted, 184, 

202. 
Walton, William, 19, 69. 
Wards, 4. 

Ware, Isaac, quoted, 88. 
Washington, Gen., 19, 69, 142, 

163. 
Watchmen, 9-10. 
Watermelons, 347. 
Water-pot, 135. 
Wax works, 318-319. 
Wealth in New York, 374-375. 
Wedgwood, 123, 125, 131-132. 
Wells, 24. 
Wells, James. 222. 
Whales, 352. 
Whieldon. Thomas. 123. 
Whipper, Public, 8. 



Wigs, 175-178. 
Willet, Edward, 301. 
Willett and Pearsey, 81. 
Wilmot, Henry, 122, 247. 
Wilson, Jane, 1 14. 
Windsor chair, no. 
Wines, 35^-353- 

, Gov. Burnet's, 353. 

, Capt. Shelly's, 60-61. 

Woman, The masculine. 382. 

■, shopper, tricky. 2}J. 

Women in Politics, 383. 

, proposals of, 392. 

Wood, Aaron, 123. 
Woolls, Stephen. 283. 299. 
World in miniature, exhil)ition of 
324-325. 

Zedwitz. Herman. 292, 296. 



THE END 



407 



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